Isfahan Regional Center for Technology Incubators and Science Park Development was established in Isfahan in May 2010 according to an agreement between Islamic Republic of Iran and UNESCO. Isfahan Science and Technology Town (ISTT) is the host for this regional center. IRIS has been mandated to address and resolve the problems currently limiting the success of Science Parks and Technology Incubators in developing countries. The initial focus of the center, as Category II center of UNESCO, is on facilitating the integration of developmental approach into science, technology and innovation, developing technology transfer, organizing capacity building, providing policy advice, facilitating the exchange of experience and best practices, and conducting research and problem solving in Science Parks and Technology Incubators development.
In 2006, the Islamic Republic of Iran joined the 2003 Convention as the 40th Member State. On 28 April 2010, an agreement regarding the establishment of a regional research centre for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in West and Central Asia, Under the Auspices of UNESCO, was signed by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Consequent to this, on 13 June 2011 the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran approved the signed agreement; and this resulted in the official inauguration of the activities of the Regional Research Centre for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia, Under the Auspices of UNESCO (Category 2) (or “Tehran ICH Centre”) on 10 November 2012, with the participation of the ambassadors and representatives of 68 countries, the Representative of the Director General of UNESCO, as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran authorities.
Iranian National Institute for oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) proposed the establishment of the “Regional Education and Research Center on Oceanography for West Asia” to the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO in 2010. The proposal was sent to Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) and a mission was undertaken by the representative of IOC to evaluate the feasibility of creating this centre.
The results of the feasibility study were presented to the IOC Assembly, which endorsed the proposal by adopting decision IOC-XXVII/Dec.5.1.2.1 at its 27th session (Paris, 26 June-5 July 2013).
Then, the Executive Board, at its 192nd session, welcomed the proposal of establishing this centre under the auspices of UNESCO and recommended (192 EX/Decision 15, Part IX) that the General Conference, at its 37th session, 5-20 November 2013, approve the proposal to grant to the said centre the status of a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO.
The final approval was made by the 37th UNESCO General Conference in November 2013 (37 C/18 Part XVII).
The Regional Centre on Urban Water Management (RCUWM), under the auspices of UNESCO, as a category II Centre was officially inaugurated in 2002, in light of the sixth phase of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) with the aim of transferring applicable scientific and experimental knowledge and to increase know-how and capacities in all cases and dimensions of Urban Water Management (UWM) in order to promote sustainable development and to undertake relevant activities to enhance human welfare within the region States.
Since its establishment, from Feb. 2002, 32 workshops, 6 conferences, 4 seminars, 7 training courses and 7 exhibitions have been organized by the Centre and its GB members. The list of activities has been included in the Centres Website.
In compliance with the seventh and eighth phase of the IHP, RCUWM has tried to promote its activities and achievements in close cooperation with its governing board member states and organizations as well as other category II Centres and Initiatives particularly the International Drought Initiative (IDI) at the national, regional and international levels.
We are a UNESCO water related center which fulfills its mission under the auspices of this organization. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran formally submitted to UNESCO a detailed proposal for the establishment of the International Center on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures in Yazd, Iran under the auspices of UNESCO, which finally met with the 32nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO’s approval. According to this approval, an agreement on the establishment of the center was signed by the director general of UNESCO and the Iran’s minister of energy on March 26th 2005 We are a UNESCO water related center which fulfills its mission under the auspices of this organization. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran formally submitted to UNESCO a detailed proposal for the establishment of the International Center on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures in Yazd, Iran under the auspices of UNESCO, which finally met with the agreement on the establishment of the center was signed by the director general of UNESCO and the Iran’s minister of energy on March 26th 2005.