The capital city of North Khorasan province in northeast Iran hosted a startup weekend for the first time.
The three-day event held in Bojnourd aimed to promote entrepreneurship and commercialization of ideas while discovering innovative individuals who could offer original thought, plans and ideas, IRNA reported.
Saeed Moein Qodsi, head of the startup weekend's steering committee, noted that the event was well-received, especially by young enthusiasts. During the course of the event, specialists provided practical mentorship to young and creative enthusiasts in a variety of fields. These individuals design their ideas in different groups and the best ones are selected and awarded different prizes.
"Several innovative ideas, which were born in startup events, have been commercialized and now major businesses are logging profits," he said, adding that the next startup weekend to be held in North Khorasan will focus on agriculture.
The official said North Khorasan's Science and Technology Park was the event's main supporter who deemed their efforts admirable. Also present at the event was the head of North Khorasan Science and Technology Park who said the more innovative ideas creative young minds present, the more jobs can be created.
"We hope to see these ideas competing in international events," Asghar Pilevar said.
"Although it has only been a decade since science and technology parks were first set up in Iran, several notable achievements have been accomplished at these centers."
According to the official last year, Iran's science and technology parks accounted for $160 million worth of exports, while North Khorasan's share was $170,000 during the same period.
According to Pilevar, technological and science-based exports from the province headed to Turkmenistan, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Spain, Italy and Germany.
While noting that creative individuals could put ideas into practice, the head of the provincial Management and Planning Organization said 26 executive organizations in North Khorasan are ready to lend support to commercialize innovative ideas.
"This can lead to constructive economic reform," Majid Pour-Isa added at the opening ceremony.
North Khorasan is home to 50,000 university students.
