Reduction of research program funding is prohibited.

According to Mehr News Agency, representatives in the open session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, continuing the review of the expenditure section of the 98 budget bill, approved several clauses of Note 9.

Based on Clause (d) of Note 9, the Ministry of Education is permitted to organize and optimize the use of a portion of its educational, sports, and training properties and spaces, and, while observing educational and training considerations, to construct, reconstruct, and operate them. The change of use subject to this clause will be implemented upon the proposal of the Provincial Education Council and the approval of the Article (5) Commission of the Law on the Establishment of the Supreme Council of Urban Planning and Architecture of Iran, approved on 12/22/1351, with subsequent amendments and additions, and is exempt from paying all fees, including change of use, transfer of properties, obtaining operating certificates, construction, demolition and reconstruction, and other municipal fees.

Also, the representatives of the nation approved the sub-clauses of Clause (e) of Note 9:

According to sub-clause 1 of Clause "e" of Note 9, in line with the realization of the goals of the country's comprehensive scientific map, reducing the credits of research programs by executive agencies is prohibited.

Pursuant to sub-clause 2 of Clause "e" of Note 9, which was approved by the Parliament, in line with the implementation of Clause (c) of Article (64) of the Sixth Five-Year Development Plan, based on supporting demand-driven research, all executive agencies subject to Article (5) of the Law on the Management of Civil Service, approved on 7/8/1386, while observing Article (117) of that law and Article (5) of the General Accounting Law of the country, which use the credits of the "Applied Research" program, are obliged to allocate at least ten percent (10%) of these credits by announcing a call for proposals on their required topics, through the theses of postgraduate studies of universities and research centers.

The representatives also stipulated in Clause (f) of Note 9 that, in order to improve scientific, research, and technological indicators, the credits of the law on the balanced use of the country's facilities for the advancement of less developed regions, approved on 7/30/1393, can also be allocated to universities and higher education institutions, science and technology parks, and Jihad University located in the province.

The representatives of the nation also approved Clause (z) of this note, according to which, in line with the implementation of Clause (b) of Article (64) of the Sixth Five-Year Development Plan, based on allocating one percent (1%) of the allocated expenditure credits to executive agencies (excluding Chapters 1 and 6) for research and technology development, the Provincial Planning and Development Council is permitted to deduct the credits subject to this article from the total expenditure credits of the province and, in coordination with provincial executive agencies and based on priorities and approved research policies and the needs of the province, and within the framework of the instruction issued by the Planning and Budget Organization of the country (which is formulated in coordination with the Ministries of Science, Research and Technology and Health, Treatment and Medical Education) for research and technology development, allocate it to provincial executive agencies designated by that council and the Jihad University of the province.

Also, the mentioned agencies are obliged to report the method of spending this clause every six months to the Supreme Council of Science, Research and Technology and the Statistical Center of Iran, and the Supreme Council of Science, Research and Technology is obliged to submit an annual report on this clause to the Islamic Consultative Assembly by the end of August of the following year at the latest. Also, the Statistical Center of Iran is obliged to publish information related to research and development expenditures annually.