Following his official appointment by H.E. the Secretary-General, Prof. Sotudeh-Gharebagh commenced his four-year tenure as Director of the Indian Ocean Rim Association Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer (IORA-RCSTT) on 15 July 2026.
A formal ceremony was held on 18 July 2026, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST). During the ceremony, the valuable contributions and achievements of the former Director, Dr. Mohammad Reza Sanjabi, were acknowledged and appreciated.
During his tenure, Prof. Sotudeh-Gharebagh looks forward to serving the 23 IORA Member States and collaborating with the 12 Dialogue Partners to advance science, technology, and innovation, and to advance regional cooperation across the Indian Ocean Rim. He aims to strengthen technology transfer, knowledge exchange, and innovation ecosystems, foster research partnerships, and support sustainable development through collaborative initiatives that create lasting impact across the region.
