Three projects have been inaugurated in the western province of Ilam to expand technological facilities and support knowledge-based companies in the province.
Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari inaugurated the tech projects and visited knowledge-based firms based at the province’s tech centers during a daylong trip to Ilam late last week, the vice president’s website Isti.ir reported.
A research center for zoonotic diseases at the Medical University of Ilam was the first project launched during Sattari’s visit. The center has been established at a cost of 4.5 billion rials ($18,000).
The vice presidential office is working to establish technology centers in all Iranian provinces depending on their capacities.
Ilam has great potentials in industrial and semi-industrial livestock breeding. Animal husbandry is a source of income for a large part of locals.
The newly-launched center is expected to scientifically and technically support the province’s livestock breeding sector and tap its hidden potentials.
A research greenhouse complex inaugurated at the university will study the regional vegetation and commercialize herbal medicine, biological fertilizers and pesticides. The greenhouse covers an area of 3,800 square meters on the university campus.
Sattari also broke ground for an innovation factory project through video conference.
The factory will be specialized in developing high-tech equipment and utilizing information technology and internet of things. It will feed Ilam Science and Technology Park with the required equipment.
Around 200 billion rials ($826,400) have been invested in the project. The factory will have 2,800 square meters of workshop space and 4,500 square meters of office space.
Sattari also visited an under-construction tech park in Fatemieh Village. The park is expected to become operational in early February 2021.
Later in his trip, Sattari reviewed innovative products developed by knowledge-based units and tech firms at the provincial Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, the innovation center at Islamic Azad University of Ilam and the Medical University of Ilam.
Vast Capacities
Meeting the provincial authorities during his daylong trip, Sattari pointed to the province’s vast capacities and said materializing a knowledge-based economy is high on Iran’s agenda. He noted that efforts should be made in every province to reach the goal.
The vice presidential office is tasked with preparing the infrastructures in each region and encouraging the utilization of precious human and natural resources to develop a local tech ecosystem and promote a knowledge-based economy.
“The vice presidential office will work on encouraging investment in local tech projects,” he said.
Commenting on financial resources specified for the tech ecosystem, the vice president said, “Fortunately, Iran National Innovation Fund, which is affiliated to the vice presidential office and the National Development Fund are ardent supporters of fledgling startups and tech firms. They support the young tech teams with loans, grants and investments to help them become independent and strong businesses.”
Sattari encouraged the fledgling tech teams to use the available resources to streamline their innovative businesses.
Sattari also called on financial institutions and banks to make direct investments in startups, because of which the government has been encouraging the establishment of venture capital funds.
Multidimensional Move
Giving support to the technology ecosystem has been high on the government’s agenda since 2013 when President Hassan Rouhani started his first tenure.
Officials believe that the nationwide support has already paid off and tech units have flourished in different fields.
Tech infrastructure projects have been launched in many Iranian provinces, expanding the national startup ecosystem and increasing its share in GDP and export revenues.
The state has also played a role in developing technical, legal and financial support centers and tech factories to provide startups with shared workspace and consultancy.
Although Tehran leads other provinces in terms of tech infrastructures and facilities, work is on track to make a collective move in other regions. Numerous tech parks, innovation factories and innovation towers have so far been launched in Yazd, Isfahan, Alborz, Khorasan Razavi, Khuzestan, Hamedan and other provinces.
However, officials believe that materializing a harmonized initiative for developing a strong technology ecosystem still needs a great deal of effort.
Tech officials say financial support to the technology sector is in line with the government’s policy to realize a digital economy and curb the country’s dependency on oil revenues.
Reports say the government has injected 36.6 trillion rials ($151.2 million) in the form of low-interest loans during the first quarter of the current fiscal year (March 20-June 20).
The loans have been offered to 484 tech units and knowledge-based companies, averaging 76 billion rials ($314,000) for each applicant, the Central Bank of Iran reported last month.
