Criticizing statistics on the emigration of elites and brain drain in the country, the vice president for science and technology affairs stated: we have attempted to make human resources the basis of economy. In this regard, more than 130 Iranian students studying in 100 top universities of the world have returned to the country. According to estimates, more than one thousand people will return to the country until the end of this year.

According to the information center of national elites foundation, quoted by ISNA, Sorena Sattari visited ISNA on the occasion of day of journalist. During an interview with ISNA, Sattari emphasized the continued education of elites in universities of other countries as rotation and not emigration of brains, asserting: with only five million students, a country like Iran only has 6,000 students studying abroad. Therefore, we must have about 250-300 thousand students abroad since global mean of this issue is 3% of total students. However, 50 thousand students in the world mean that only 1.1% of total Iranian students are studying abroad. He emphasized that in most of the Arab countries in the region, more than 30% of students study abroad. In this regard, he added: we need a special platform to continue the rotation of elites.

He also mentioned: false statistics have been quoted from International Monetary Fund that announces that Iran was ranked first in the area of brain drain in 2009. These statistics are published when no such report has existed. We have even announced that rewards will be given to anyone who can find these statistics.

Emphasizing that IMF does not normally publish statistics on brain drain, Sattari reminded: elite immigration reports are provided by institutions such as the United Nations and the US Immigration Service, and such reports are available on US, Canadian and European immigrant sites. According to the latest data from this site last year, 1400 Iranian students have F1 visas and 450 have J1 visas from the US, which have had an extreme descending trend.

Measures Taken by the Vice-Presidency to “Return Elites”

According to Sattari, about 12 thousand Iranian students study in the United States. In this regard, he stated: there are statistics on emigration of elites on websites. While I am not a pessimistic person, I believe that false statistics are presented intentionally.

At the beginning of the revolution, there were 170 thousand students were in Iran and 100 thousand students were studying abroad, 56 thousand of whom were in the United States. The fact that we had no brain drain when more than 37% of students were studying abroad and now we have brain drain when only 1.1% of our students are outside the country is contemplating.

Pointing out the fact that Iran ranked first in 1979 in terms of the number of Iranian students in the United States, Sattari claimed: currently, China is ranked first in this regard with 350 thousand students in the United States.

Expressing that it is attempted to make human resources the basis for economy of the country, Sattari continued: the number of people who can guide the economy of the country is limited. Therefore, in an attempt to return elites to the country, we have tried to find these people ourselves and provide an opportunity to return them to the country, which is known as “return of elites”. 

Return of more than 130 Iranian students from 100 top universities of the world in the first four months of the year

Emphasizing the value and effectiveness of these individuals and their ability to provide suitable groundwork in the country, Sattari added: however, an organization must support these people. We are alone in the Vice-Presidency and our society cannot attract people.

Therefore, in this situation, the successful examples of the return of elites to the country or successful projects of these individuals are not seen in the country. In this regard, Sattari stated: according to statistics, more than 130 Iranian students studying in 100 top universities of the world have returned to the country in the first four months of the year while statistically the rate of return is lower than last year.

Pointing out that the statistics on return of 130 Iranian students to the country are only related to those studying in 100 top universities in the world, asserting: there are other people who come back to the country based on the platform we have defined. However, according to the indicators we have defined, there are the top universities in the world are 100, and by the end of the year more than a thousand people are estimated will return to the country.

 

 

Government Money Must be Spent on Infrastructure

Emphasizing that large projects carried out by government money are like construction and industrial works performed with government money, Sattari stated: the product does not get out of government credentials because it will eventually look like a car that will force people to buy it when it is banned; the same is true for research. Government money must be spent on infrastructure.

Pointing out the implementation of macro projects in the Vice-Presidency, Sattari emphasized that the national observatory project is an infrastructural project, Sattari added: in this project, all the steps of its design have been implemented domestically and the work is very sensitive and the mirror that was built for this observatory, with a diameter of 1.5 meters as one of the largest in the world, while all of its components are designed domestically.

Sattari mentioned that the industry of telescope manufacturing is created inside the country by implementing this project, adding: my main emphasis is on spending the credits of country on infrastructural projects so that the private sector could eventually produce a product.

Pointing out the national macro program of vaccination production, Sattari marked: the government cannot produce vaccines, and this area is related to the private sector.

Involvement of the Government Sector Is the Cause of Unsuitable Production of Vaccination in the Country

Sattari regarded the involvement of the government sector as the cause of unsuitable production of vaccination in the country, adding: in addition, it was observed that contracts were made with universities for the design and manufacture of locomotives and the question arises as to which university in the world is a locomotive or high-speed train maker. Name a university that has produced a drug or vaccine. The structure of the university is to train the right manpower for the knowledge-based economy.

Emphasizing that knowledge-based companies must produce drugs and vaccinations, Sattari asserted: these companies are staffed by universities, and all the major projects we have on our agenda are being implemented with the help of knowledge-based companies and making good progress.

 

 

Networking by the National Elites Foundation

In terms of activities of the national elites foundation, Sattari emphasized that no big advertisement has been supposed to make on activities of the foundation, explaining: the members of this foundation are not willing to advertise their activities. However, advertising services are granted to those subjected to this advantage, in a way that every year, five thousand people are covered by the national elites foundation and receive services from this organization. However, the financial services of the foundation are not that much and we have mainly focused on guiding top talents and using networks related to the national elites foundation.

Pointing out the support of top talents by the national elites foundation, Sattari regarded one of the supports to be academic prizes, the amount of which has been doubled since this year. In this regard, he reminded: the main issue is networking and providing spiritual facilities. For instance, we have mainly focused on networking in the field of non-resident Iranian elites, and we have provided other services such as granting rights or laying the foundation for employment.

According to Sattari, networking of knowledge-based companies is the responsibility of the Vice-Presidency. On the other hand, networking of universities, research centers and laboratories is the responsivity of the national elites foundation. In this regard, he mentioned: these measures are much more valuable than financial services since it is believed that applicable and specialized facilities are supposed to be provided to the elites.

Pointing out that financial needs are a small part of needs of these individuals and not the first priority, Sattari continued: our main option to support the elites is to create a path that they can thrive on, and the elites themselves must come to the conclusion that they must strive for prosperity, and that is the supreme leadership's emphasis on the elite's recent visit with them.

According to the statements of the Supreme Leader, the elites are still at the beginning of their path. In this respect, Sattari reminded: if one of these people has received a global medal, this is the beginning of the path, and there is no action taken to influence society and entrepreneurship, and this is the beginning of the path to the goal, not the end of the path.

Sattari reminded the statements of the Supreme Leader on the fact that the elites are still at the beginning of their path, affirming: if one of these people has received a global medal, this is the beginning of the path, and there is no action taken to influence society and entrepreneurship, and this is the beginning of the path to the goal, not the end of the path.

Sattari considered the financial support provided by the national elites foundation a way to eliminate the financial problems of top talents, declaring: this type of support is a tool to assist individuals in reaching their goals, in a way that granting awards such as “Ahmadi Roshan” is in line with entrepreneurship.

According to the president of the national elites foundation, awards are granted in the foundation in a way that the elites could stand on their feed and their talents are flourished with the help of guidance by the foundation.

Establishment of More than 200 Companies by Non-resident Elites

He also emphasized that the foundation does not support all people, explaining:

Emphasizing that the support provided by the foundation is not given to all covered individuals, he added: only 25% of individuals returning to the country have become faculty members in universities or science centers and 75% of them are either working in companies or have established their own knowledge-based firm or startup.

According to Sattari, 200 companies have been formed in this regard. He explained: more than seven thousand people have been recruited by these companies. These individuals are not eager to become a faculty member. If we had a society that attracts elites or an economic that needs the recruitment of graduated youth, we could have maintained these people.

Pointing out a four-rank improvement in the global innovation index (Gii) of Iran, Sattari stated that the economic status of the country was unfavorable last year, expressing: nevertheless, all scientific indices of the country have been favorable. According to the latest Gii report, we have been ranked second in terms of some of the indices. However, we need an economy that is able to absorb and use this level of science and technology and human resources.

We Seek an Economy that Invests on Young Human Resources

Emphasizing the necessity of reinforcing the economy, correcting the business environments and eliminating the existing bureaucracies in the economy, Sattari continued: we seek an environment that is able to attract young and talented youth. We lack such environments in the country. We need an economy that does not depend on oil industry and attempts to invest in human resources. This is what we need to see happening in the knowledge-based economy.

The vice president for science and technology affairs pointed out the formation of more than 4400 knowledge-based in the country, affirming: only 10% of these companies (400 firms) have grown in a way that they have had a sales rate above 10 billion tomans. This applies to all technological fields, where there are some large companies and several small companies that play a role in the development of the market and export.

Implementation of the "Pioneers" Program for 400 Large Knowledge-based Companies

Sattari pointed out the implementation of a special program known as “Pioneers” for 400 large knowledge-based companies, asserting: these firms are the propellers of small startups since they are able to enter markets, make brands, export products, receive standards and teach business methods to smaller companies and startups to improve the activity of the company. Therefore, a special support program is being implemented for the 400 companies with export ability.

In response to the question of “is the number of 400 pioneers from 4400 knowledge-based companies satisfactory?”, Sattari mentioned: only 10% of companies of all countries are large. They need to purchase or invest in small startups to reach innovation.

Presence of More than Seven Thousand Active Startups in the Country

According to this authority, 400 companies have a sales rate of more than 10 billion tomans. On the other hand, we have more than seven thousand startups that have never become knowledge-based but are recognized as active companies, playing the role of large companies to prepare the market for startups.

According to Sattari, creating the market for startups by large knowledge-based companies requires coordination in implementation of policies. In this regard, he marked: most startups are dissolved in their growth stages, which is happening all over the world, in a way that two-four out of 10-20 startups can successfully grow. However, this rate is higher in Iran since we have many unique markets. This is why we recommend the investment of venture capitals in companies and startups.

This graduate of Sharif University stated that investors and startup owners share the benefits and losses of a business, adding: venture capitals do not provide loans to startups in order to repay them after being bankrupted. The venture capital and not the bank accept risk. Meanwhile, banks play a supportive role for 400 knowledge-based companies.

He continued: we have attempted to guide traditional investors toward investment in new knowledge-based fields.

Development of an Instruction for Online Taxis

Sattari pointed out the presence of two thousand ideas in different fields, most of which are related to the social field, expressing: we mostly focus on the municipality of Tehran in order to manage the city with startups and solve problems such as air pollution and waste management.

In response to the question that: “does the Vice-Presidency have a plan for organization of these startups, especially those working in urban fields?”, Sattari affirmed: ideas implemented in the world must be first domesticized in the country, one of which is online taxis. Entrance of startups in this area has created a major change.

The vice president for science and technology affairs pointed out the existence of the challenge of entrance of new players all over the world and not just Iran, stating: we have tried to make traditional players understand that old methods do not work anymore. We have attempted to prove them that they will lose to a 24-year-old young man working in a startup since they provide ideas that are welcomed by the people and not controlled by government rent.

He pointed out that the only way for success of traditional players is investment on the youth, expressing: for instance, instead of establishing new branches, banks can purchase fintechs or online insurances.

Sattari added: an instruction is under development for online taxis. The president is also very eager to follow up this area, and I believe that this is the start of a large movement.

Regretting the Existence of Dumping in the Country

Iran’s laws guarantee import

The vice president for science and technology affairs regretted the presence of dumping phenomenon in the country, emphasizing the fact that Iran is an importing country: all of our thoughts, works, and laws are related to import since we have sold oil for many years and have purchased and imported products several times their actual prices. When we enter dumping, companies enter products into the market with the final price.

According to Sattari, changing this import trend into an export trend in the next one-two years is not possible. In this regard, he added: exist of this trend needs serious culture building prerequisites.

He provided some examples of dumping attempts, stating: a drug’s price in Turkey is 200 euros, which reduces to 20 euros when it is attempted to be sold in Iran. This not the end of it. In fact, some companies provide drugs free of charge as a donation.

Sattari continued: on the other hand, Iranian merchant lists drug for €20 on the insurance list, and the insurance company announces that the price of the drug is 20 euros. On the other hand, domestic products must manufacture this drug with 70% of the announced price.

Pointing out that this was supposed to happen for factor-8 drugs but was prohibited, Sattari reminded: foreign companies monitor the activity of domestic companies. When the power of domestic production decreases, the same drug is entered into the market with its original price. 

According to Sattari, another type of dumping is related to medical equipment. In this context, he marked: such phenomenon occurs for CT scan machine. When we have production in a specific field, foreign companies sell their products at lower costs. However, we must move toward the inhibition of foreign products, the domestic counterpart of which is produced in the country. This issue must gain a legal structure.

The president of the national elites foundation emphasized that dumping phenomenon cannot be encountered by an expert, stating: in Japan, standards have been formed to deal with this issue, where foreign counterparts cannot attain the standards and such products are not allowed to be entered into the country.

The president of the national elites foundation emphasized that not all affairs can be assigned to one expert to deal with dumping, stating: in Japan, standards have been defined to deal with this issue. However, these standards cannot be gained for international counterparts, which leads to lack of import of products in the customs.

We must evaluate products case by case to deal with the dumping phenomenon

Sattari mentioned that products must be evaluated case by case to deal with dumping, reminding: over the last few years, all problems related to the smuggling of products was related to having an X-ray machine. Therefore, some X-ray machines were purchased for the customs, most of which have remained unused due to lack of spare parts.

He continued: as soon as one of the domestic companies was able to design and manufacture an X-ray machine, not even a single order has been made in more than one year and a half, and it seems that the problem of administrative corruption and smuggling has been resolved in the country.

According to Sattari, this issue is caused by creating the structure of the country based on import. In this regard, he marked: another type of dumping can be found in telecommunication switches. Some time ago, our country manufactured these switches. Today, China provides them for us free of charge, and we have witness that the telecommunication switches have been replaced three times in five years. Meanwhile, even the analogue switches made in Iran are still working in the system.

Sattari mentioned: over these years, there has been a decline in domestic production in the field of telecommunication and hardware. 

Sattari introduced vaccine production as another area of dumping, asserting: vaccination is required by all governments. However, foreign companies provided vaccines to the countries of the world free of charge, justifying this act by saying that they have initiated bio-terrorism activities. This act led to a lack of producing vaccines in any other country. Dumping phenomenon exists and we must protect ourselves from this issue.

We have problems in the field of money transmission in the export area

In target markets, an ecosystem of individuals work with each other in terms of banking transactions

Emphasizing the problems we have in the field of money transmission in the export area, Sattari explained: in this regard, we have cooperated with export offices of some countries to solve this issue. However, our target markets are neighboring countries and some specific export headquarters, such as China and Russia. This is mainly due to the fact that we can more easily export to neighboring countries and there are less money transmission problems.

Sattari mentioned the existing of an ecosystem of people in target markets such as Saudi Arabia cooperating with banking transactions, expressing: this ecosystem has been formed in regions such as “Sulaymaniyah”, “Turkey”, and “Georgia”.

In response to the question of “why should we be proud of exporting to Iraq that is not an industrial country?”, Sattari added: while it is not industrial, it is a good market for our products. In a country such as Syria, a huge number of palm trees have been destroyed. However, an Iranian company has the knowledge of growing these trees, which can be used to produce 10 thousand palm trees.

This method of palm growing is of tissue cultivation method, technical knowledge of which is obtained by just one company in Iran. One of the problems of Syria is palm production. In addition, they have many other needs in the field of medicine, as well as laboratory and medical equipment that can turn the country into a market for Iran.

Increased Technology Share of Iran

Sattari mentioned that science and technology field has been turned into a thematic field instead of a marginal one, asserting: one of the goals of the Vice-presidency is making today’s knowledge tangible in life of people. Therefore, knowledge-based companies and startups work in this regard, which is carried out by cellphone manufacturing firms since our smart phones are an important part of our lives today.

Sattari expressed that apps on cellphones have been developed by Iranian students studying abroad, and this phenomenon has occurred in fields such as medicine, health, medical equipment, nano and stem cells and aerospace. In this respect, he reminded: these actions have led to the tangible role-playing of technology in our daily life and technology field is expanding to the area of economy since we witness the growth of technology share in the economy of the country. 

Pointing out the proper capacity of human resources, Sattari expressed the ability to enter technology into economy. He added: since the establishment of these acts, journalists of this field have witnessed the improved position of news agencies, in a way that today’s news status of scientific services cannot be compared with four-five years ago.

Sattari continued: managers of companies working in the field of technology production are less than 30 years old. Nevertheless, they have changed the traditional economy, which is clearly observed by the people. This is the type of change we need in the country. News agencies are responsible for introducing these technologies, and we will support this move if successful examples are introduced.

The Media Must Cover Technologies More Professionally

The vice president for science and technology affairs demanded the media to more professionally cover this area, reminding: in this regard, a variety of "media" such as film, video and artistic media and cultural productions can be used to promote science, technology, and knowledge-based culture, as some of their effects are greater than interviews.

Pointing out that government involvement is not his policy, Sattari added: when I was appointed as the vice president for science and technology affairs, I was to become the manager of science and technology parks. However, we maintained the structure of the Vice-Presidency with the least human resources and its building belonged to the president unit. We maintained a small administrative structure as far as possible while we could have built a large building, recruit many workforce, or establish laboratories and research centers with our budget. Nevertheless, we believe that the Vice-Presidency must work in a way that it could increase the effectiveness of science and technology in the economy.

At the beginning of his work, Sattari felt a need for a special headquarter of culture-building and promotion of knowledge-based economy, which led to the formation of this center. In this respect, he mentioned: the goal of establishing the “knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter” is to form a cultural-social strategy. It is not supposed to take the place of the media and news agencies. Since a few years ago, the headquarter has been formed in the Vice-Presidency has been able to promote knowledge-based economy with the least number of work force and four-five big tasks.

In the end, Sattari expected the media to not just publish his words, emphasizing the effectiveness of films, clips, and TV programs on science and technology. In this regard, he affirmed: other goals of the knowledge-based economy include coordination, directing and progressing the strategic goals of the ecosystem and establishing one, two, and five-year programs for culture-building, promotion, informing, and increase the public knowledge, and holding special events in the field of education and information. In this respect, the Vice-Presidency supports the media regarding the mentioned activities.