STEP

What STEP does

STEP (Science and Technology Exchange Program) is a non-profit international conference and fellowship program operated by the Mustafa(pbuh) Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF), a non-profit foundation headquartered in Tehran, Iran. Founded in 2015, STEP convenes scientists, researchers, technologists, and policymakers from the 57 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) through annual in-person events — supplemented by virtual editions during COVID-19 — hosted at rotating host universities in Iran, Malaysia, Oman, and Pakistan. The program has completed 10 editions, with participation growing from 12 countries in early editions to 20+ countries in later editions and event-level attendance ranging from approximately 70 to 300+ participants.

STEP's product surface comprises three interconnected programs: (1) the core STEP annual forum featuring panels, workshops, keynote speeches, and networking sessions on strategic S&T domains, with the 10th edition focused on Cutting-Edge Engineering and Tomorrow's Medicine; (2) the Young Scientists' Fellowship Program (YSFP), a 6-12 month fellowship for scholars under 40 with at least a master's degree, covering return flights, accommodation, and research expenses, run jointly with COMSTECH across host universities including Sharif University of Technology, NUST Pakistan, and Koç University; and (3) the EISA (Exposure of Industries to Scientists' Achievements) exhibition program, which connects investors to scientists' products through B2B meetings and pitch decks for commercialization.

The organization operates with a team of 6 employees and does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded entirely by the Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation and partner institutions, with no pricing model or revenue mechanics. Its GTM is event-driven: securing a host university, setting a thematic agenda, recruiting speakers and participants through partner networks (COMSTECH, UNESCO, WHO, TWAS, UNOSSC, A*STAR, BioNTech, and others), and executing the program. The stated value proposition addresses the fragmented state of S&T collaboration among Islamic countries, which the organization cites as below 40% compared to a 65% global average, positioning STEP as the premier convening platform for brain circulation rather than brain drain across the Islamic world.

Name

STEP

Legal name

STEP : Science and Technology Exchange Program

Website

https://step.mstfdn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STEP is a non-profit annual scientific exchange program under the Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation that convenes scientists, researchers, and policymakers from 20+ OIC member countries through rotating international conferences, fellowships, and commercialization exhibitions, with no commercial revenue and a 6-person team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Exchange Programs

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

akta.pro primary industry

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Third-Party Short-Term Academic Program Providers (Multi-Discipline) (EDAIAIAB), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Scientific exchange conferences
• Research fellowship programs
• OIC science collaboration
• Young scientists fellowships
• Technology transfer exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Tehran

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation-funded program: STEP operates as a nonprofit scientific exchange platform under the Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF). The program does not generate commercial revenue but is funded through foundation resources, sponsorships, and institutional partnerships to support scientific collaboration among Islamic countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

STEP is an annual international conference series organized by the Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) that brings together scientists, researchers, technologists, and policymakers from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries to share research, build collaborations, and shape future science and technology directions. The program is complemented by the Young Scientists' Fellowship Program (YSFP), which provides 6-12 month research fellowships to early-career scholars under 40, and the EISA exhibition, which links investors with scientists' products for commercialization.

Product overview

STEP operates as a unified platform organized by Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) comprising three interconnected programs: the Science and Technology Exchange Program (STEP) as the core platform for scientific networking and collaboration among Islamic world STI actors; the Young Scientists' Fellowship Program (YSFP) providing short-term research fellowships to young scholars; and the EISA exhibition program facilitating commercialization of scientific products through investor-scientist connections. These programs work together to advance science and technology collaboration across OIC countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Science and Technology Exchange Program (STEP) Annual international conference platform organized by Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) that expands scientific networks among STI actors of the Islamic world through panel discussions, workshops, keynote speeches, and networking sessions focused on strategic science and technology domains.
• Young Scientists' Fellowship Program (YSFP) Fellowship initiative under STEP providing short-term fellowships (6-12 months) to young scholars, technologists, and faculty members under 40 years of age with at least a master's degree, supporting research in biotechnology, health, and ICT across Islamic countries. Coverage includes return flight tickets, accommodation, and research expenses.
• Exposure of Industries to Scientists' Achievements (EISA)

Quantifiable outcome

• Average collaboration in S&T among Muslim countries increased from less than 40% toward higher levels through STEP programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MSTF is the primary organizing body behind STEP. As the foundation that awards the prestigious Mustafa Prize ($500,000 to top Muslim scientists), MSTF established STEP as a platform to expand scientific networks among STI actors of the Islamic world.
• COMSTECH (OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOMSTECH collaborates with MSTF on joint initiatives including the Young Scientists' Fellowship Program (YSFP) for capacity-building and nurturing young generation for science, technology, and innovation development in Islamic countries.
• UNESCOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as STEP partner organization, contributing to international scientific cooperation among Islamic countries.
• WHOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Health Organization listed as STEP partner, collaborating on health-related scientific exchange programs.
• TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTWAS, represented by President Quarraisha Abdool Karim as keynote speaker at STEP events, collaborates on scientific exchange for developing countries.
• BioNTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as STEP partner organization, participated in scientific exchange activities.
• UNOSSC (United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNOSSC partners with STEP to promote South-South scientific cooperation among Islamic countries.
• A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA*STAR participates in STEP with scientists like Prof. Jackie Ying, a Mustafa Prize laureate, contributing to nanotechnology and biomedical research exchange.
• Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPM co-organized the 2nd STEP (December 19-23, 2016) as Malaysian Chapter: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Development Forum. Attended by 26 delegates from 12 countries including Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Turkey.
• Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), OmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSQU hosted the 4th STEP in Muscat, Oman (December 2-5, 2018) with themes on Water, Energy and Health. Over 80 scientists from 20 countries and 200 academics from Oman participated.
• University of Karachi / ICCBS (International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICCBS at University of Karachi co-organized the 5th STEP (February 27 - March 2, 2019) focusing on health science and female scientists' contributions. Around 70 scientists participated.
• Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT), IrancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner10th STEP will be hosted at AUT focusing on Cutting-Edge Engineering and Tomorrow's Medicine domains.
• Sharif University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSharif University of Technology hosted YSFP 2024 with 12 fellowships granted.
• National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUST hosted YSFP 2022 with 5 fellowships granted and extended deadline for YSFP at NUST to January 31, 2025.
• Koç University, TurkeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKoç University hosted YSFP 2022 with 2 fellowships granted.
• Alzahra University, IrancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlzahra University in Tehran hosted the 6th STEP with 70 scholars from 30 countries.
• Iranian Vice-President for Science and TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting STEP activities in Iran.
• Royan InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyan Institute, led by Hossein Baharvand (Mustafa Prize laureate 2019), participates in STEP with stem cell research presentations and hosts related events.
• Universiti Sains MalaysiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as STEP partner university.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Young Affiliates Network: TWAS Young Affiliates and similar early-career networks at TWAS-affiliated academies serve as the most direct functional analog to YSFP, targeting early-career researchers from developing countries.
• IIASA – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis: IIASA convenes researchers across countries on systems and sustainability science through international programs and Young Scientists programs, paralleling STEP's convening-plus-fellowship model in a different thematic domain.
• AIMS (African Institute for Mathematical Sciences): AIMS runs continent-wide centers for postgraduate training and research in the Global South with a strong capacity-building and fellowship model. While Africa-focused and discipline-specific, it shares STEP's exchange-and-fellowship DNA for developing-country scientists.

Regional players

• ISESCO-affiliated university networks in OIC member states: University consortia and research networks operating under OIC-affiliated bodies (e.g., Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World) compete for the same institutional convening role among OIC universities, making them relevant regional peers.

Direct peers

• TWAS – The World Academy of Sciences: TWAS is a UN-affiliated academy that promotes scientific capacity and exchange in the developing world, with a similar fellowship and South-South collaboration mission. It is both a STEP partner and a structural peer in convening OIC/Global-South researchers.
• COMSTECH (OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation): COMSTECH is the OIC's official ministerial-level S&T cooperation body, co-organizing the YSFP with MSTF and convening scientists across OIC member states. It is the most direct institutional peer in mandate and geography.
• ICESCO (Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): ICESCO operates programs supporting scientific research, education, and cultural exchange across OIC member states. Its mandate and target audience closely mirror STEP's, making it a direct regional peer.

Broad incumbents

• AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science): AAAS is a broad incumbent that convenes global scientists, runs international fellowship and exchange programs (e.g., AAAS Science Diplomacy), and shares STEP's general mission of international scientific collaboration, though on a global rather than OIC-focused basis.
• The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (Network of affiliated programs): TWAS-affiliated national academies and programs (e.g., TWAS Young Affiliates) operate a longer-running version of STEP's fellowship and exchange mission, representing broader incumbents with deeper institutional history.
• UNOSSC – United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation: UNOSSC is a listed STEP partner and a global incumbent coordinating South-South cooperation across the UN system, providing institutional framing for STEP's collaboration thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=STEP+science+technology+exchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stepmstf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about STEP