The Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Scientific Research Affairs, Prof. Dr. Haider Abd Dhahd met with the Al-Nahrain-IRAQ student team from Al-Nahrain University and reviewed the team's project participating in the iGEM International Synthetic Biology Competition.

Prof. Dr. Haider Abd Dhahd affirmed his support for high-quality student initiatives and projects that promote scientific research and innovation and open new horizons for Iraqi students to compete in international forums.

The Deputy added that the participation of Iraqi students in international competitions reflects the advanced level that Iraqi youth can achieve when provided with a suitable scientific environment and institutional support.

Prof. Dr. Haider Abd Dhahd highlighted that Al-Nahrain-IRAQ team includes students from diverse disciplines, including medical biotechnology, dentistry, civil engineering, artificial intelligence, and business economics.

The Deputy demonstrated the importance of integrating scientific and technological disciplines in producing innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.

For their part, the SYNOVA team's project focused on integrating artificial intelligence and synthetic biology to advance biofuel production.

It is significant to mention that the mentioned achievement was attained by employing AI techniques to model and predict yeast performance and optimize ethanol production processes, ultimately leading to more efficient, cost-effective solutions that require less experimentation.

Media and Government Communication Directorate

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

September 6, 2026