The Director of Innovation and Technology at the Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology of Shahid Beheshti University announced that, considering the university’s successful and marketable technical and specialized capacities, there has been a strong interest in establishing technical and professional collaborations with leading agricultural agro-industrial companies. In particular, efforts are being made to initiate cooperation with Karun Agro-Industry Company to leverage the university's scientific and research-based knowledge and capabilities. Given the need to improve production processes in agricultural industries, the application of knowledge-based technologies developed at the university could enable Karun Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company to increase its wealth generation capacity beyond current levels and contribute more effectively to meeting the country’s health and food security needs through sustainable and successful advancements. Karun Agro-Industry Company, with an area of approximately 45,000 hectares and an annual product sales volume of around 80 trillion IRR (8,000 billion Toman), holds a prominent position among sugar production companies in the region.
Accordingly, and with the continued support and endorsement of Dr. Masoudi, the esteemed Head of the University’s Science and Technology Park, an official invitation was extended to the company’s management. It is noteworthy that the representatives of Karun Agro-Industry Company held a series of diverse and specialized meetings with relevant university officials. The first session was held in the presence of the Head of the Science and Technology Park of Shahid Beheshti University, during which the general policies, conditions, and various models of collaboration between the university and the company were presented and discussed with the visiting delegation. In the second session, after touring laboratories and knowledge-based companies located at the Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology — particularly in the field of agricultural biotechnology — the company’s representatives engaged in discussions with faculty members and CEOs of these startups.
At the conclusion of this visit, Dr. Shahouli, Head of Karun's Research Center, and Mr. Mollahosseini, Head of Planning at the company, delivered a talk in the presence of the university’s Vice President for Education, the Dean of the Faculty, faculty members, and postgraduate students. Their presentation addressed management successes, technological opportunities, and the company's needs. This session concluded with a discussion on areas of mutual interest.
The visiting delegation also toured the Research Institute of Medicinal Plants and Materials, where they held a technical meeting with the Head of the Institute, Dr. Ghasempour. Practical and strategic suggestions were shared for enhancing and diversifying the company’s products. The delegation was then introduced to the institute’s ongoing research projects and capabilities. Expressing great interest in further collaboration, the delegation proposed that a selected group from Shahid Beheshti University visit Karun Agro-Industry Company in the near future. This would allow the university representatives to gain firsthand insight into the company's operations and capacities, laying the groundwork for effective and actionable cooperation.