OIC-COMSTECH and the Russian Federation have agreed to strengthen collaboration in higher education, science, and technology through joint academic programs.
The OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and the Russian Federation reached an agreement during their first working group meeting held in Kazan, Russia. The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in areas such as higher education, scientific research, emerging technologies, and joint academic initiatives. Senior officials from both sides, including university rectors and representatives of leading scientific institutions, participated in the meeting.
According to COMSTECH, the discussions centered around enhancing academic mobility and capacity-building programs, climate cooperation through carbon supersites projects, joint scientific programs, research infrastructure development, fellowship schemes, mega-science projects, and multilateral collaborative research initiatives.
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Dr. Muddasir Asrar, Senior Adviser to COMSTECH, emphasized the importance of strengthening scientific diplomacy and institutional partnerships between OIC member states and Russia. He highlighted that collaborative research, academic networking, and technology-driven partnerships are essential for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable scientific development.
Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Mr. Airat Gatiyatov, welcomed the growing engagement between Russian scientific institutions and COMSTECH. He expressed Russia's interest in expanding cooperation in higher education, research, innovation, and academic exchanges. Noting that collaboration in science and technology could significantly strengthen international partnerships and address common developmental challenges, he outlined several key areas of focus for future cooperation.
The Russian side included representatives from various leading scientific institutions such as the Kazan Federal University, Ufa University of Science and Technology, and the Russian Foreign Trade Academy. The OIC-COMSTECH delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Muddasir Asrar, Prof. Dr. Shahid Mahmud, and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Riaz Khan.
Both sides expressed a commitment to enhancing long-term cooperation through joint academic programs, scientific exchanges, collaborative research initiatives, and institutional partnerships in priority areas of science and technology. The agreement marks an important step towards fostering greater collaboration between OIC member states and Russia in the fields of education and research.
