The vice president for science and technology affairs emphasized on the preparation of infrastructures in Sistan and Baluchestan as a promise to establish an innovation factory in the province in near future. In this regard, he stated: forming an innovation factory in the region can be an engine for knowledge-based economy of the province, turning it into the birthplace of innovations.

According to the information center of national elites foundation, Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs, attended a meeting with senior managers of Sistan and Baluchestan province and Chabahar free zone as the final part of his one-day trip to this area, considering the capacity of the region suitable for establishment of an innovation ecosystem.

Sattari pointed out that all efforts would be made to create the necessary infrastructures to develop technology and support startups so as to witness the flourishing of innovation and technology ecosystem in the province. In this respect, Sattari mentioned: the necessary infrastructure has been created for ecosystem of innovation and technology using the creativity of the youth.

Innovation Factory as a Stimulus for Knowledge-based Economy

Sattari talked about the capacities of the province, expressing: given the presence of talents and preparation of infrastructures (growth and innovation centers, science and technology park, accelerators, and specialized human resources) and regarded the establishment of an innovation factory in the region a necessity. According to Sattari, this factory can be a stimulus for development of knowledge-based economy and the birthplace for innovations. We also support equipping and preparing it as much as the province devotes to this space.

The vice president for science and technology affairs considered belief in the motivation of the youth in Sistan and Baluchestan province as one of the foremost important capacities for sustainable development.

Problem solving by Creative Indigenous Youth

Pointing out the high capacity of Sistan and Baluchestan to develop knowledge-based businesses, Sattari marked: the amount of government investment in education in Sistan and Baluchistan has been significant, and these specialist human resources should be optimally utilized in the direction of developing a knowledge-based economy. The province spends on educating these young people to be efficient at solving indigenous problems, and the profitability of this investment comes from creative, educated youth.

The vice president for science and technology affairs introduced medical herbs as one of the potential capacities of the province in development of knowledge-based and startup businesses, adding: various projects have been implemented in Sistan and Baluchestan in different fields, including medical herbs. Proper capacities exist in these areas, and some projects are followed up at the level of mass production.

“The Private Sector” Is the Key Role-player in the Innovation Field

Pointing out that the private sector plays the key role in the flourishing of innovation ecosystem by forming knowledge-based and startup businesses, Sattari asserted: an ecosystem must be provided to keep a talented individual or elite in the province as long as the private sector investor and entrepreneur provides the necessary space for innovative activities.

The vice president for science and technology affairs regards the realization of such ecosystem to be depending on serious determination of all sectors, including universities and authorities.

Doing Product-based Research by Contributions of the Private Sector

Pointing out the necessity of creating product-based research in the presence of the private sector, Sattari marked: knowledge-based companies and startups form with the investment of the private sector. The main investor of research must be the private sector, which, if occured, results in the formation of competitive products and moving in line with the society’s needs. The Iranian-made biotech drugs, that are the main progress in the field, are the result of the cooperation of the private sector in research. According to this report, the vice president for science and technology affairs visited Chabahar free zone to open Makran science and technology park with the goal of improving the innovation and technology ecosystem of the region and investment in new businesses and startups by supporting the technological youth.

Head of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter explained the necessity of changing the attitude of the society toward the concept of development, expressing: development is sustainable when it comes from the heart of the province and is created by the hands of the indigenous youth.

According to this report, the vice president for science and technology affairs inaugurated Makran science and technology park in Chabahar free zone with the goal of improving the innovation and technology ecosystem in the region and investing in new businesses and startups.