Renewed Support for Knowledge-Based Firms

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei reiterated the importance of supporting knowledge-based firms, which are critical to the pace of national development in science and technology.

"Special attention should be given to supporting knowledge-based companies, increasing the number and efficiency of such companies and involving them in major national sectors and projects" to help accelerate scientific and technological progress, Ayatollah Khamenei said.

He made the statements in Tehran on Wednesday in a meeting with a group of top university students and members of Iran's National Elites Foundation.

Ayatollah Khamenei called for more effective programs to promote the products of knowledge-based firms in the society, saying that "state bodies should be required to use the products of knowledge-based companies to meet their needs."

The Leader cautioned that hostile governments are trying to block Iran's scientific development, thereby turning it into a dependent nation, according to a transcript of his comments published on his official website.

Stressing the necessity of honoring elites and helping them realize their full potential, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Elites represent the driving engine of the efforts to meet the Islamic Republic's major goals."

"Any blow to the country's scientific movement could lead to frustration among the elite community and the youth," he said.

"This would inflict heavy damage that would be very difficult to eliminate and would cause the educated population to leave the country."