The vice president for science and technology affairs and minister of defense signed a cooperation agreement in line with the use of abilities of knowledge-based companies and startups in technology area in the defense field and facilitating the entrance of defense technologies to the business area.

According to the information center of national elites foundation, Brigadier general Amir Hatami, the minister of defense, explained the development of cooperation with knowledge-based companies during the ceremony, stating: according to this agreement, over $98 billion has been defined for project-based knowledge companies by the year 2019, which increases with the type and volume of contracts.

Brigadier general Amir Hatami described the agreement as a new paradigm in defense-technology cooperation.

He pointed out the cumulative and focused use of defense capabilities in the defense sector as one of the pillars of the agreement.

He also talked about the infrastructural support of knowledge-based companies based on this agreement, expressing: We have huge infrastructure that is costly to build for many companies. These infrastructures are provided to companies, with legal and infrastructure protections also being considered.

The minister of defense emphasized the use of large reserve of knowledge and technology of knowledge-based companies in the field of defense technologies, affirming: this memorandum will open up both the defense and the knowledge-based sectors of the country so that we can transform the economic sector as well, because there are sectors of defense that can be used in the business and economic sectors and mutually the capabilities of technology and business can be defensive.

Hatami continued: meanwhile, free financial and military interactions are the right of all countries. The enemy is trying to deprive our country of these basic rights in a cowardly and cruel way and does not spare any effort to harm the people in the shadow of economic terrorism. We will move step by step and build the country by relying on ourselves. The youth are determined to create the needs of the country with their own initiative and hands.

The minister of defense pointed out the efforts made to maintain deterrence and dignity in the country as we make scientific and technological progress. With achieving progress, both in the fields of military and business, while adhering to the statements of the Supreme Leader and the president on the cooperation of these two sectors, the suitable result of this agreement will be soon unveiled.

Support of Existing Defense Abilities by the Vice-Presidency 

On this ceremony, the vice president for science and technology affairs pointed out the support of entrance of knowledge-based abilities of knowledge-based companies to the defense section, expressing: this agreement also supports the entrance of existing abilities in the defense field into the business market that have commercialization ability.

Sattari mentioned the cooperation of the Vice-Presidency and ministry of defense in line with interactions of innovation ecosystem and defense field of the country.

Sattari expressed that in order to achieve innovation and progress, we must leave the work to knowledge-based companies. In this regard, he declared: fortunately, this has been the task of the ministry of defense and most companies rely on the ministry of defense since it helps knowledge-based companies expand their innovation and survive.

The president for the national elites foundation stated: we have technologies and innovations in the private sector that are created for the purpose of defense, but have defense potential. One of the clauses of the agreement is to build the capacity to collaborate and bring these technologies into the defense industry, and we also have technologies in the defense sector that are not confidential and can be well commercialized and create added value.

Sattari emphasized: the Vice-Presidency paves the way for development of knowledge and technology by supporting the products manufactured for the first time, covering the risk of technologies and supporting the first steps to expand the knowledge border. This agreement is signed in line with former cooperation with the defense section to support the entrance of knowledge abilities by knowledge-based companies and defense sector’s technologies development headquarter.

In the end, the vice president for science and technology affairs marked: in areas of aerospace, biotechnology and cognitive sciences supported by the Vice-Presidency, knowledge-based companies and startups have cooperated, which will be expanded due to this agreement.