26 11 2025

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for scientific, research, and technological cooperation was signed this morning between the University of Kurdistan and the West Oil and Gas Production Company in the university's presidential meeting hall. The agreement aims to develop joint projects, facilitate technology exchange, and strengthen the link between academia and industry in the oil and gas sector.

University of Kurdistan and West Oil and Gas Company Sign Strategic Memorandum of Understanding

Dr. Adel Si-o-seh-mardeh, President of the University of Kurdistan, emphasized the importance of expanding targeted collaborations with industry, stating: "We hope that with the implementation of this MoU, the foundation for sustainable interactions between the university and industry will be further strengthened, and we will witness its positive impacts in the educational, research, and environmental fields." He added, "This agreement provides an excellent opportunity to enhance student skill development, utilize industrial infrastructure, and advance applied research projects."

Mahmoud Nasiri, CEO of the West Oil and Gas Production Company, highlighted the company's extensive operations in the provinces of Kermanshah, Ilam, and Lorestan, stressing the significance of joint fields and the necessity of continuous production. He said: "With over 2,700 employees and 2,200 kilometers of transmission lines, West Oil and Gas is a key entity within the Ministry of Petroleum, which is why collaboration with various academic disciplines is a priority for us." Expressing the need to bridge the gap between industry and academia, he announced: "We are prepared to extensively leverage the scientific and research capacities of the University of Kurdistan and to sign a comprehensive MoU for long-term cooperation."

Ahmad Saei, the company's Technical Director, pointed to numerous potential areas for joint collaboration, stating: "There is potential for joint projects in fields such as formation evaluation, image and log data processing, reservoir engineering, energy, electrical and mechanical engineering, and artificial intelligence. Specialized meetings with university professors and researchers are scheduled to be held." He also noted the oil industry's need for smart reservoir management, data protection, and the development of specialized software, identifying the University of Kurdistan as having the necessary capabilities to enter these domains.

In another part of the meeting, Hamid Moradi, the company's Head of Research, emphasized the importance of scientific and educational cooperation: "With its capable faculty and active knowledge-based companies, the University of Kurdistan can play an effective role in implementing research initiatives, industrial projects, and conducting training courses, internships, and thesis supervision."

This MoU marks the beginning of a new chapter of joint cooperation between the University of Kurdistan and the West Oil and Gas Production Company, aimed at further integrating knowledge and industry.