President Hassan Rouhani launched several technology development projects worth 34 trillion rials ($135 million) on Thursday to create jobs and promote self-sufficiency.
Rouhani inaugurated the projects in the capital city Tehran via videoconference, the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology reported on its website Isti.ir.
The projects are financed jointly by the private sector and the vice presidential office, with the latter’s share amounting to only 1.45 trillion rials ($5.8 million).
The first project coming on stream is a production line of an influenza vaccine with a new formula, developed by the knowledge-based PharMED Salamat Company based in Tehran.
According to the company, the project will not only meet the domestic demand for flu vaccine, but also create 60 direct and 150 indirect jobs.
Also known as flu shots or flu jabs, influenza vaccines should be developed twice a year, as the influenza virus mutates rapidly.
Another project unveiled was the production line of dairy starters developed by Takgene Zist Company, located in Tehran.
Backed by Lactogen Accelerator Company, specialized in biotechnology, Takgene has the capacity to produce two million dairy starter units, meeting over 70% of domestic demand in dairy companies.
Dairy starters are at the heart of fermented milk products, the most crucial component in the manufacture of high-quality fermented milk.
According to official reports, the import of starters costs over $20 million annually. The domestic counterpart is expected to replace foreign starters and curb capital flight.
Sharif University Tech Zone was the other project introduced at the unveiling event. The zone is located over 250 hectares covering the Sharif University’s surroundings and Sharif Science and Technology Park.
Managed by the university and Tehran Municipality, work on the joint project started in January 2019. When the zone was partially constructed, it started absorbing tech units. However, its official launch was postponed until its completion.
Currently, over 500 tech companies, 13 accelerators, six investment funds and eight innovation centers are operating in the zone.
A seven-car subway train designed and developed by three knowledge-based companies is the last project unveiled at the event.
The project, which created over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs, is expected to slash capital flight by $130 million annually.
Thanks to the project, four production units will manufacture 400 wagons per year to facilitate urban subway development.
Previous Round of Inaugurations
In January, President Hassan Rouhani had launched several technology development projects worth 4.52 trillion rials ($18 million) to create 7,150 jobs.
The projects were kicked off in Khorasan Razavi, Fars, Kermanshah and Alborz provinces.
A 3.7-hectare innovation factory in the shrine city of Mashhad, the provincial center of Khorasan Razavi, and located near Ferdowsi University was the first project launched.
“An abandoned soft drinks factory has been repurposed and retrofitted. The factory offers shared workspace, laboratory, innovation rooms for children, training hall, amphitheater, content development class, network development service center and a café,” Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari said at the event.
The factory is tasked with commercializing the business ideas of startups and generate income for the teams and added value for the city.
Another innovation factory was launched in Shiraz, Fars Province, on 17,000 square meters of area. It is focused on information and communication technologies, cultural, agricultural, medical and tourism industries, as well as maritime economy and energy.
Based on a deal signed by six entities last year in June 2020, the innovation factory is established at the Iranian Telecommunications Manufacturing Company in the city.
Several veterinary vaccine production lines were also launched at the event.
Nationwide Efforts
Over the past few years, numerous tech parks and innovation factories have been established throughout the country to offer shared workspace and other facilities to tech units.
There are seven tech parks in Tehran Province, most of which are backed by major Iranian universities, including Tarbiat Modares University, University of Tehran, Sharif University of Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University and Islamic Azad University.
These tech parks carry the name of universities backing them. Innovation factories in Tehran, such as Azadi and Highway, have also attracted numerous tech teams and startups.
Azadi Innovation Factory was launched in August 2018 at an abandoned chemicals factory near Azadi Square, west of Tehran. The center is backed by the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology and is managed by Sharif University of Technology.
Highway, the capital's second innovation factory, is under construction. The factory is being established in an old building near Nobonyad Square on the northeastern flank of Tehran.
Tehran is not alone in its push for establishing innovation factories and tech parks. Numerous centers have also been launched across Iran.
The vice presidential office is developing innovation factories in Iranian metropolises like Zanjan, Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj and Yazd to expand startup and knowledge-based ecosystems.
At the innovation factories, startups and knowledge-based companies find legal, technical and financial help to develop their activities.
With the extension of infrastructural and financial support, those who are active in the tech ecosystem are propelling Iran’s domestic production sector to end the economy’s oil dependency and help overcome sanctions.
