The opening ceremony of CAPIS, the research centre for advanced polymer technologies, took place on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, through a collaboration between Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, and Vulkan Industrial Group. The event marked the beginning of a shared path connecting academic research, industrial experience and market needs—from identifying problems to developing technology and creating value.
Reports of the event outlined an intention to direct postgraduate dissertations, faculty research and the capabilities of research teams and technology units towards real challenges facing Vulkan Industrial Group.
Scenes from the Opening Ceremony
Participants on stage at the CAPIS opening ceremony, an event focused on university–industry collaboration in advanced polymer technologies.
From Industrial Challenges to Research and Technology
The approach presented for CAPIS emphasised connecting production challenges with academic expertise and opportunities to apply research findings in industry. The stated aim is to define research around genuine needs and assess how its outcomes could lead to technology development and economic value.
Majid Hashemzadeh, Head of CAPIS, introduced the Manufacturing Engineering and Polymer Chemistry research groups as part of the centre’s problem-oriented structure. This framework is intended to enable academic specialists to contribute to addressing industrial needs.
Bringing Industrial Experience into University Education
The President of Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, emphasised the need to bring education and research closer to real industrial challenges. He described sharing industrial expertise and experience in university classrooms as an opportunity to strengthen students’ connections with production environments and build confidence in their future prospects.
Within this approach, university–industry collaboration can help students engage with practical challenges and participate in research and technology development.
A Focus on Greater Value Creation in the Polymer Industry
In his published remarks on CAPIS, Amir Keshani, President of the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, emphasised the importance of moving from exports of raw and semi-processed materials towards finished products. He identified CAPIS as a potential technological catalyst for this transition.
This perspective highlights the importance of linking research with market needs and product development alongside scientific and industrial collaboration—a theme also reflected in reports on the centre’s launch.
The photographs in this report document moments from the opening ceremony. A common theme across the perspectives presented was the start of a collaboration to translate real industrial challenges into research questions and support a path towards technology development.
For more about the centre’s objectives and the collaborating organisations, read the CAPIS opening report.
