He was speaking during a visit to Ilam Province to inaugurate a steel compny and meet scientific and technological elites, local officials including Ilam’s governor and lawmakers as well as its Friday prayers leader. 

 

According to the information center of National Elites Foundation,

Afshin called for greater synergy between Ilam's elites, universities and the private sector. 

 

He also stressed the need to increase the number of knowledge-based companies inproportion to scientific and academic possibilities in the western Iranian province. The vice president reiterated that he will inform the cabinet of ministers of the problems faced by Ilam Province upon returning to Tehran, adding that Ilam lags

behind other parts of Iran 13 years in terms of development and industrialization. 

 

Meanwhile, the vice president described the province as a place where knowledge-based companies and innovative activities can be robustly developed. 

 

Referring to the 20-thousand-strong population of students in Ilam, Afshin underscored Ilam is rich in terms of human workforce and also has a high potential for translating innovative ideas into technological products and

knowledge-based companies. 

 

The vice president’s comments come as the technological ecosystem of Ilam has seen a significant growth in recent years,

with an eight-fold increase in the number of knowledge-based companies and a three-fold increase in the number of technological units.