07 September 2015

IIASA’s Energy Program Director joins President of Austria’s Delegation to Iran

Austrian President Heinz Fischer began a three-day visit to Iran today accompanied by a high-ranking delegation of political, business, science, and cultural representatives.

Aerial view of Tehran in a rainy day with ray of sunlight shining through clouds on the city. Photo taken on: March 13th, 2014 . © Borna Mirahmadian | Dreamstime

Aerial view of Tehran in a rainy day with ray of sunlight shining through clouds on the city. Photo taken on: March 13th, 2014 . © Borna Mirahmadian | Dreamstime

IIASA’s Energy Program Director, Professor Keywan Riahi, was a member of the President of Austria’s delegation which arrived in Iran on 7 September. The visit, the first by the head of a European state in a decade, aims to develop closer relations between Austria and Iran in economic, scientific, and cultural fields. The high-ranking delegation also included Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz, and a large number of representatives of Austrian industry and business.

During the visit, Riahi will participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Austrian Vice-Chancellor and the Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad Farhadi. In addition, Riahi will discuss closer collaboration between IIASA and Iranian researchers in the area of energy through meetings with key representatives at the Iranian Ministry of Energy and Sharif Energy Research Institute, Sharif University.

Closer Collaboration between IIASA and Iran

IIASA global research and science-to-policy strategy is based on a concept of understanding economic, social, and environmental transitions in the key regions and countries of the world, one of them undoubtedly being the Middle East. With this in mind and following the positive developments of the international negotiations with Iran, IIASA has been exploring closer collaboration with Iran. This includes:

IIASA Research Activities with Iran: Past and Present

Researchers from IIASA and Iran have collaborated on a range of activities, including:

  • Studies into how insurance schemes can help reduce the risks and losses to property owners in Iran in the event of an earthquake;
  • Research into the social acceptance of renewable energy use in Iran;
  • Analyses into water management and governance in Iran; and
  • Projections of Iran’s future population.

Partners on these studies include scientists from the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, the Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University, and the University of Tehran

Additionally, eight PhD students from Iran have developed their international research skills by taking part in IIASA’s Young Scientists Summer Program and its Southern African version.



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Last edited: 07 September 2015

CONTACT DETAILS

Keywan Riahi

Program Director and Principal Research Scholar Energy, Climate, and Environment Program

Principal Research Scholar Integrated Assessment and Climate Change Research Group - Energy, Climate, and Environment Program

Principal Research Scholar Pollution Management Research Group - Energy, Climate, and Environment Program

Principal Research Scholar Sustainable Service Systems Research Group - Energy, Climate, and Environment Program

Collaborations with Iran

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
Phone: (+43 2236) 807 0 Fax:(+43 2236) 71 313