During a meeting on international cooperation in the field of science and technology, the vice president for science and technology affairs considered the change of huge investment in the education sector of the country into knowledge-based companies and startups an important measure taken by the Vice-Presidency, stating: there are issues and challenges that we raise and address.

According to the information center of national elites foundation, a meeting was held on international cooperation in the field of science and technology in the presence of Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs, and Ansari, the economic deputy of minister of foreign affairs, and new ambassadors of Iran in 20 foreign countries. The attendees of the event shared opinions and reviewed opportunities to develop international cooperation in this field.

Sattari talked about problems of dependency on oil economy, expressing: the separation of university and industry from society is one of the disadvantages of the oil economy. It has been over a hundred years since this economy was imposed on our country. The oil that made us dependent on foreign technology.

The vice president for science and technology affairs also marked: the reason for the underdevelopment of the countries dependent on underground resources is that their economic foundations are based on rent. This is a raw-selling-based rent that has caused problems in various sectors.

An Ecosystem Is Shaped Based on the Iranian Culture

The president for the national elites foundation added: at present, the country has an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship. Manpower is a major player in this ecosystem, and fortunately in Iran there are no problems with 34 million young people and 6 million students. Sattari described the current situation in the ecosystem of knowledge-based economics for ambassadors and heads of agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran abroad.

The president of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter pointed out the activity of more than 4600 knowledge-based companies in the ecosystem, expressing: these companies sold 90 billion tomans last year and created 300,000 direct jobs through their activities.

In addition, Sattari described the 2025 vision plan of the innovation ecosystem in the country, continuing: activity of one thousand new startups, six thousand knowledge-based companies with income generation of 150 thousand billion tomans, 300 accelerators and innovation centers and eight innovation factories in this ecosystem is anticipated by 2025.

Pointing out the development of areas of innovation in city and in the vicinity of scientific centers, the vice president for science and technology affairs affirmed: there are one innovation hub, five technology towers, four research centers, five innovation centers, seven accelerators and five venture capitals based in Sharif Innovation Region. In addition, 3,000 direct jobs have been created with the establishment of 500 companies in the innovation area.

According to Sattari, the Vice-Presidency is responsible for turning huge investments in education area into innovation ecosystem in the form of activity of startups.

Investment in the Knowledge-based Field is the Way to Survive Knowledge-based Economy

Gholamreza Ansari, the economic diplomacy deputy of the minister of foreign affairs, talked about the necessity of development of activities of knowledge-based companies in the country, adding: during these years, there has been a good investment in human resources.

Ansari also expressed: this meeting is an opportunity to enter our knowledge-based products into the market with the cooperation of Iranian representatives abroad. Not only this area is an honor for Iranians, but also we can attract the attention of the world by helping this field.

International Interactions and Cooperation in the Field of Science and Technology Is Compulsory

In addition, Mahdi Ghalenoei, the president of the center for international affairs and technological exchange, mentioned that changes in technology, the size of the world's investment in this area, its diversity, and the expansion of its impact on people's lives have forced international communications and collaboration in this field. In this regard, he affirmed: knowledge and technology is a clean, borderless area so it is a good entry point for expanding interactions. Therefore, heads of branches outside the country should be regarded as generals of international communications because their interactions can accelerate the development of this field.

He also declared: expanding the export of knowledge-based products and services is the basis of the steps we take in partnership with the private sector. Therefore, knowledge-based companies that have exporting capacities are supported to be ready to enter export markets with the utmost power.

Pointing out the activity of technology development export and trade corridor, Ghalenoei mentioned: the center pursues strengthening the export capacity of companies by providing services such as training, consulting, market research, licensing and standardization. To date, 3500 services have been provided by technology companies.

According to Ghalenoei, there are 17 technology exporters active in the field of technology company product development.