The D-8 Organization strengthened its cooperation with the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC) by signing a memorandum of understanding at the premise of the D-8 Secretariat in Istanbul on Monday, 13 February 2023. Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, the D-8 Secretary-General, and Prof. Dr. Seyed Ahmad Fazelzadeh, the President of the ISC, signed the memorandum on behalf of their respective organizations.

The signed memorandum encompasses cooperation promotion among scientists, increasing the performance of the research institutions, developing a needs and ideas platform for the D-8 Organization, and joint activities to promote both organizations’ visibility. The memorandum was signed to replace the two previously signed memorandums in 2012 and 2018.

Ambassador Imam and Prof. Fazelzadeh expressed their commitment to implementing the memorandum, effectively. Ambassador Imam said that human resources development, including in the academic sector, is one of the priorities of the D-8. He underlined the establishment of the D-8 Network of Pioneers for Research and Innovation (D-8 NPRI), based at the Comsats University in Islamabad, Pakistan, as a tangible example.

In order to operationalize the MoU further, Ambassador Imam proposed the organization of a joint webinar, possibly in the third quarter of 2023, to introduce the services and activities of ISC to the D-8 Member States.  The proposed webinar will also serve as a platform for the D-8 Member States to present and share their wealth of academic research.

The two leaders underscored the importance of research and development toward the attainment of the objectives of the D8. They agreed to link the ISC with the D-8 NPRI. Ambassador Imam also invited Prof. Fazelzadeh to lead the ISC delegation to attend the forthcoming NPRI meeting in Pakistan next month.