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Exchange of Knowledge Between Academia and the Maritime Industry: A Step Toward the Development of Indigenous Standards
| Last update: 2025/10/29 |
Head of the Faculty of Marine Engineering at Amirkabir University:
The primary goal of the First International Conference on Standards and Standardization in Marine Industries is to bring together experts, academics, and students to exchange scientific and industrial knowledge.
The First International Conference on Standards and Standardization in Marine Industries will be held in December 2025, hosted by Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic). Alongside keynote sessions and specialized workshops, the event will also feature an exhibition showcasing the latest achievements in the field.
According to the Public Relations Office of Amirkabir University of Technology, Dr. Mehdi Saeed Kiasat, Dean of the Faculty of Marine Engineering, stated that the aim of this conference is to promote the exchange of new scientific findings among professionals in the marine field — both in research and in industry. He emphasized that such exchanges can flow both ways — from industry to academia and vice versa — thereby strengthening collaboration between the two sectors.
He noted that a wide range of maritime organizations across the country are involved in organizing this event. All entities related to the marine sector, including governmental organizations, industrial bodies, and universities, have been invited to participate in various sections of the conference — including paper presentations, workshops, and keynote speeches. This approach ensures the active engagement of a broad community of academic and industrial participants.
Dr. Kiasat highlighted that the exchange of up-to-date scientific information among university professors, specialists, and researchers can play a vital role in advancing standardization, developing localized standards, and promoting their practical application within industry.
Regarding Iran’s position in the development of international standards, he remarked that standard development is mainly carried out in developed countries, while developing nations are often consumers of these standards. He stressed that in addition to adopting international standards, universities and research institutions in Iran must work toward developing national standards tailored to local conditions.
Dr. Kiasat added that many international standards with strong empirical foundations can be localized and adapted to Iran’s domestic context to ensure greater effectiveness and applicability.
He stated that a direct outcome of this conference would be a step toward integrating standardization into industry, noting:
“Although we may not witness immediate transformation following the conference, such events lay the foundation for the creation and development of indigenous standards in the country. Academic–industrial dialogue is a key instrument in driving progress in national standardization.”
The Conference’s Role in Developing National Standards
Dr. Kiasat emphasized that all research papers presented at the conference will be utilized by university faculty in completing and developing national standards. He explained that active research groups within the Office for Marine Standards Development at the Faculty of Marine Engineering have been continuously engaged in drafting national standards for the past three years.
Addressing current gaps in maritime standardization, he noted that numerous practical guidelines have been established by international standardization institutions. In Iran, the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) serves as the primary authority for implementing these standards under the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
He added that the PMO not only enforces existing standards but also contributes to the development of new ones, playing an active role in IMO meetings. Universities act as scientific partners in this process — for instance, faculty members of Amirkabir University collaborate with PMO’s departments to review and comment on IMO standards under discussion.
“The synergy between academic efforts and the Ports and Maritime Organization represents Iran’s role in the development and implementation of new maritime standards,” he said.
Design and Construction of Standardized Vessels in Iran
In response to a question about the application of standards in vessel design, Dr. Kiasat explained that multiple initiatives have begun in Iran for designing and constructing standardized vessels. While some models are inspired by foreign designs, domestic efforts are now focused on localizing and adapting these models to meet Iran’s technical and environmental requirements.
He stressed that the ultimate goal is to achieve a fully indigenous model for the design and construction of standardized marine vessels, enabling Iran to play a stronger role in the regional and international maritime industries.
Dr. Kiasat explained that, in many cases, Iranian engineers start from international or foreign vessel design templates and then recalculate and adjust the designs according to local operational objectives and conditions.
Regarding coordination among universities, the National Standards Organization, and the Ports and Maritime Organization, he said that since the establishment of the Marine Standards Development Office within the faculty, a framework for such coordination has emerged. The Marine Industries Organization has reached out to universities to strengthen this connection.
He emphasized that success in this area depends on continuous expert meetings, workshops, and technical discussions — a process that has already begun to align industrial needs with academic expertise in standardization.
Challenges of Implementing International Standards in Iran
On the challenges of adopting international standards such as those of the IMO, Dr. Kiasat explained that while these standards help nations build compliant vessels and offshore structures, they also impose significant financial and technological burdens. For example, IMO’s MARPOL regulations on greenhouse gas emissions require the maritime industry to move toward net-zero emissions — a process demanding advanced technology and major investment.
“Implementing these standards involves costs for all countries,” he said, “but in the long term, it benefits both manufacturers and the environment, as preserving oceans and natural resources depends on adherence to such regulations.”
He added that one of the conference’s key themes is environmental protection, with one of its ten main topics dedicated to “standards for environmental sustainability.” The conference will welcome research papers in this area to ensure comprehensive coverage of environmental considerations within the broader framework of standardization.
Marine Renewable Energy: Opportunities and Gaps
Discussing Iran’s plans to establish national standards for marine renewable energy, Dr. Kiasat said that while some activities have begun, the field remains limited.
“Marine renewable energies are environmentally sensitive and eco-friendly by nature,” he noted. “We hope that through expanded research efforts and collaboration between academia and industry — along with advancing standardization efforts — domestic researchers will further develop this important area.”
He further pointed out that developing and maintaining international standards typically occurs in countries with strong scientific and industrial infrastructures. While Iran has significant expertise and potential in some areas, effective participation in global standard-setting requires long-term scientific and industrial capacity building.
“This process must be strategically planned and carried out through the collaboration of various national institutions,” he said, “with a focus on localization and alignment with national conditions — so that Iran can evolve from being a consumer to becoming a producer and leader in selected areas of marine standardization.”
Continuing Marine Standardization Efforts Through the Establishment of a Research Center
Dr. Kiasat concluded by describing the progress of marine standardization efforts at Amirkabir University:
“Activities related to standard development began at the Faculty of Marine Engineering in 2021 and have been steadily growing since. These efforts require institutional support, which fortunately has been provided by both defense and civilian organizations.”
He announced that the Office for Marine Standards Development is being transformed into a Marine Standards Research Center, operating under the Marine Research Institute, which will consist of several specialized centers. The Marine Standards Research Center will be one of its key divisions, to be officially launched soon with support from relevant organizations.
Regarding details of the upcoming conference, he noted that the event will take place on December 2, 2025. Despite the relative novelty of the topic in academia, around 98 scientific papers have already been submitted, of which approximately 40 will be selected for oral presentation and the remainder for poster sessions. The papers are currently under review by marine experts from universities across the country.
He added that three parallel sessions will be held on the conference day, ensuring that presentations are not limited to students but also include contributions from professors and professionals — fostering richer scientific discussions.
Dr. Kiasat also announced that a specialized exhibition will be held alongside the conference, featuring around 25 booths, including participation from the Marine Industries Organization, Iranian Defense Standards Center, National Standards Organization of Iran, and several private-sector maritime companies. The exhibition will complement the conference’s scientific component by promoting industry–academia interaction.
He further mentioned that on the second day of the event, specialized workshops will be conducted, featuring international experts active in standardization and classification societies.
“The participation of these foreign specialists will enhance the scientific depth of the conference and foster knowledge exchange between Iranian and international researchers,” he said.
In conclusion, Dr. Kiasat expressed hope that this event will serve as a significant step toward the development of localized standards and the advancement of Iran’s scientific standing in the field of marine industries.
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