Recent international developments show that geopolitical competition is increasingly shaped by knowledge flows, technology transfer, advanced innovation, and geotechnology value chains rather than traditional trade and infrastructure. In this emerging order, technology diplomacy has become an important component of economic security and national power. Although Iran–China relations have entered a new strategic phase, with several long-term cooperation agreements, tangible and operational cooperation within the two countries’ innovation ecosystems remains limited.
Structural Gaps in Iran–China Technology Cooperation
Iran–China technology cooperation faces structural barriers, including weak intermediary institutions, high private-sector risks, and an excessive focus on Beijing. Iran needs stronger institutional mechanisms to reduce transaction costs, build trust, and connect the two innovation ecosystems.
Lessons from China’s Innovation Diplomacy
China’s innovation model is increasingly province- and ecosystem-based, with regions specializing in different technologies. International experience shows that successful innovation corridors require trust, professional intermediaries, and ecosystem-based cooperation. Iran should therefore move from a Beijing-centered approach to province- and ecosystem-based engagement.
Technology Diplomacy Infrastructure Framework (TDIF)
The proposed TDIF model provides a six-layer architecture for sustainable Iran–China technology cooperation: strategic coordination, scientific networks, private-sector facilitation, finance and investment, trust and standards, and regional/international connectivity.
Anzali Free Zone as a Regional Pilot
The Anzali Free Zone is proposed as the first pilot for the innovation corridor, leveraging its position along the North–South Corridor and its access to the Caspian Sea, Eurasian markets, and Central Asia. It could host technology brokerage centers, joint laboratories, and Iran–China–Eurasia innovation initiatives.
A Three-Phase Roadmap for the Innovation Corridor
- Phase 1 – Institutional Setup (First 12 Months): Establish a joint secretariat, engage target Chinese provinces, launch a technology cooperation center in Anzali, and develop legal and IP frameworks.
- Phase 2 – Pilot Projects (2–3 Years): Launch joint projects in AI, digital health, green technologies, smart agriculture, and smart logistics, alongside academic exchanges and joint investment funds.
- Phase 3 – Regional Expansion (3–5 Years): Extend the Anzali model to other free zones, connect the corridor to Eurasian and international innovation networks, and establish a national performance-monitoring system.
This study is conducted at Technology Diplomacy Think Tank by Mostafa Mahmoudi in 2026.
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