Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met this morning with thousands of scientific elites. During the meeting, His Eminence said that making investments in the arenas of science, technology, and educating elites is one of the main priorities in making plans that are aimed at fostering appropriate development.
His Eminence referred to science as the basis of the country's material and spiritual power and reiterated: "All honorable Iranian people as well as officials, elites, students and academics should make serious and non-stop efforts in order to make up for the country's historical and long-lasting backwardness in scientific fields."
Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the scientific achievements of the country in such fields as nuclear technology, stem cells, nanotechnology and environmental technology and the pride of the Iranian nation in such achievements, adding: "In order to complement these achievements and expand the scope of such achievements to all fields, we have to develop an interrelated scientific cycle and system."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that preparing the required software and hardware facilities for the elites is the most important way of supporting the elites and reiterated: "The elites are after making efforts, deep thinking and promoting progress of the country and the ground should be prepared for the elites to achieve this goal."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the country's comprehensive scientific plan outlines an important part of the country's scientific requirements. He further added that it is necessary that the elites make efforts in order to fulfill these needs.
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei said that a cycle has to be developed in the country whereby thoughts are turned into commercial products.
He added: "We should create a cycle whereby the thoughts of elites are presented to scientific centers. Technological and industrial elites can turn these ideas into industrial and non-industrial products after they are scientifically nurtured. And the organizations in charge can prepare the ground for the production and industrialization of these products."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the importance of industrialization and said that scientific and industrial products should have the potential to help produce wealth. "The officials of the organizations in charge should think of industrialization from the moment when scientific and industrial projects are started."
His Eminence said that it is necessary to constantly monitor the results of the investments that are made with regard to elites and added: "It is necessary to constantly monitor the scientific activities and achievements of neighboring and Islamic countries and take them into consideration in our plans and activities."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Islamic Republic's emphasis on the importance of science is based on accurate calculation and thoughtful judgment and reiterated: "Constant emphasis on the importance of knowledge and scientific progress is not rooted in standing on ceremony and fleeting emotions. This is because according to accurate calculations, science and knowledge are the bases of the material and spiritual power of every country. And any nation who falls behind in this regard will be forced to imitate other countries."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the purpose of achieving scientific progress is different in the Islamic Republic than it is in the west and added: "Western countries seek to achieve wealth through making scientific progress. They did not respect the rights of the people or observe ethical and religious principles when they came across nations in the Indian subcontinent, Africa, East Asia, and Latin America on their way towards achieving scientific progress."
His Eminence said that promoting oppression, class distinction and inattention to the basic rights of nations are the results of the incorrect scientific goals which are set in the west and added: "In Islam, purification precedes the acquisition of knowledge because in the absence of purification and human education, knowledge will turn into a tool for wickedness and committing crimes."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that promoting human virtues and defending human rights in the true sense of the word are the main goals pursued by the Islamic Republic in the process of achieving scientific and technological progress and reiterated: "We seek knowledge in order to achieve true power and raise the flag of justice and humanity in the world. This will enable us to support innocent people in the face of the oppression of oppressive and domineering powers."