Background: Despite the increasing number of Cochrane authors and consumers, the absence of a structured association between The Cochrane Collaboration and Iranian contributors has resulted in a limited use of the evidence produced by The Cochrane Collaboration in Iran. Over time, an increasing number of Iranian healthcare professionals and consumers have expressed keen interest in coming together to establish a more formal arrangement with The Cochrane Collaboration which might further expand the involvement of Iranian contributors. Objectives: To increase the awareness of Iranian healthcare professionals and their involvement with The Cochrane Collaboration. Methods: In 2007, an informal network of Iranian Cochrane authors, consumers, peer reviewers and handsearchers (ICInet) was established. With its close connection to universities and consumer associations, it has sought to explore possibilities of expanding Cochrane Collaboration activities in Iran by circulating reports, information and newsletters and through workshops it has organised for healthcare professionals and consumers around the country with support provided by the Dental School of Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (http://www.dent.sbmu.ac.ir/icinet.asp). Results: More than 10 training workshops were conducted in 2007 in different parts of the country including Tehran, Tabriz and Sari which has substantially increased the number of researchers involved with the Collaboration as handsearchers or Cochrane authors. A number of Iranian healthcare journals were handsearched for the Collaboration, local databases were identified and pilot projects were carried out for identifying of randomized controlled trials and an increasing number of Iranian consumers received mentoring support to peer-review Cochrane reviews. Conclusions: This informal but structured network in Iran (ICINet) has made a significant contribution towards increasing the level of collaboration of existing contributors to The Cochrane Collaboration as well as increasing general awareness about The Cochrane Collaboration in Iran.