Iran ranks first in quantum technology among Islamic countries

Over the past decade, the country’s best ranking in quantum technology is 15, from 2019 to 2021.

Quantum technologies include three main categories, namely quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing and measurement.

Quantum computing includes photonic networks, superconducting circuits, spin qubits, neutral (cold) atoms, and trapped ions. Quantum communication involves quantum key distribution, quantum telemetry, quantum repeater, and sensors.  Quantum sensing encompasses quantum clocks, quantum imaging, and quantum radars.

Iran's best global ranking is in quantum remote sensing technology. The country is ranked eighth worldwide.

The country’s other global ranking include photonic network technologies, 17; superconducting circuits, 18; spin qubit, 16; neutral (cold) atoms, 21; Trapped ions, 19; quantum key distribution, 24; quantum repeater, 26; quantum clock, 12; quantum imaging, 14; and quantum radar, 15.

In quantum remote sensing, Yazd University, University of Tehran, and University of Mohaqeq Ardabili ranked first to third, respectively. Yazd University also ranked first in Quantum repeater.

Shahed University; University of Tehran, and Imam Khomeini International University ranked first respectively in superconducting circuits, spin qubits, and nuclear atoms.

Sharif University of Technology is placed first in photonic networks, trapped ions, as well as quantum key distribution.

In quantum clock, quantum imaging, and quantum radar, University of Mazandaran, Tarbiat Modares University, and Urmia University are placed first.

Intl. Conference on Quantum Technologies

Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran held the International Conference on Quantum Technologies and Industrial Applications (ICQT) 2024.

The two-day conference took place on May 28-29 at the university.

Iranian and foreign experts addressed the challenges facing the development of Quantum Technologies.

The Scientific and Executive Secretary of the ICQT, Mohammad Esmail Zibaei, considered the technology to be one of the new criteria for the development of countries and said: Quantum technologies, especially quantum telecommunications, quantum imaging, quantum measurements, and quantum computers, are of great importance in the world, IRIB reported.

"The conference serves as a platform for professors, researchers, scientific managers of the country, and students to learn about the latest research findings and advancements in the field. It also provides opportunities for networking to create domestic and international cooperation," Zibaei added.

During the conference, more than 30 domestic experts and elites in related fields presented their achievements and findings.

Also, international lecturers from Germany, Switzerland, China, the Netherlands, and Italy were scheduled to introduce and explain the latest quantum studies and achievements in the industry.

On the sidelines of the conference, a specialized exhibition of the quantum technology industry was held to showcase the latest technology and products of knowledge-based and technological companies.

Global rankings

The Times Higher Education (THE) has included 33 universities from Iran among the top 1,500 universities pursuing sustainable development goals (SDG) compared to 27 universities in 2023.

THE evaluated 2,152 universities from 125 countries to produce the overall Impact Ranking for 2024.

A total of 29 Iranian universities are mentioned in the overall table including Alzahra University, Iran University of Medical Sciences, and Kerman University of Medical Sciences (ranking 401- 600); Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, and University of Tehran (ranking 601 -800); Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Sharif University of Technology, University of Kurdistan, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ranking 801-1000), Mehr news agency reported.

Amirkabir University of Technology and Sharif University of Technology achieved the highest ranking in industry innovation and infrastructure, where they are placed 27.

The 21st edition of the QS World University Rankings (2025)  placed nine Iranian universities among the world’s top institutes, compared with seven universities in 2024.

This year's ranking featured over 1,500 institutions across 105 higher education systems.

Sharif University of Technology (with a rank of 342), University of Tehran (368), Amirkabir University of Technology (403), Iran University of Science and Technology (436), and Isfahan University of Technology (489) were ranked first to fifth, respectively.

Tabriz University (552), Shiraz University (691-700), Shahid Beheshti University (851-900), and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (951- 1000) were other top Iranian universities included in the ranking.

A total of 29 Islamic countries with 270 universities were included in this ranking.

Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey ranked first to third respectively in terms of the number of universities. Iran ranked 11th among Islamic nations in this year's QS ranking.

SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) 2024  placed 197 Iranian universities among the top institutions in the world compared to 194 universities in 2023.

The SIR is a classification of academic and research-related institutions ranked by a composite indicator that combines three different sets of indicators based on research performance, innovation outputs, and societal impact measured by their web visibility.

In the latest ranking, Tehran University of  Medical Sciences  (5) and the University of Tehran (10)  were among the top 10 institutions in West Asia. They ranked 6th and 11th, respectively, in the 2023 ranking.

The Research rankings of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and University of Tehran were 175 and 290, respectively, in the world.