Iranian knowledge-based companies and tech firms earned 1.2 quadrillion rials ($7.2 billion) from the export of technological products in the last Iranian year (ended March 19), an official at the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology said.
Esmaeil Qaderifar added that tech units have been mainly working in the fields of medicine, stem cells, regenerative medicine, laser and photonic science, Mehr News Agency reported.
“They use cutting-edge technologies, some of which are locally developed versions of previously imported items. This has curbed capital flight,” he said.
The official noted that tech firms’ income has been on an upward trajectory over the past several years, starting from 600 trillion rials ($3.6 billion) in 2017-18 to 900 trillion rials ($6.7 billion) in the year ending March 2019.
Officials believe that given the domestic potential and the enthusiasm of tech teams, exports will soon reach 5 quadrillion rials ($30.3 billion).
Qaderifar also said tech firms and knowledge-based companies started growing in 2014, reaching over 4,800 units at present, creating jobs for over 300,000 people.
“They were expected to meet the domestic market demand, but they have developed their businesses to an extent that they can augment the export revenue, in addition to boosting the domestic economy,” he said.
“The figures prove that the solution to economic hardships facing Iran today can be found inside and not outside the country.”
Extending support to new startups and technology firms has been on the government's agenda since 2013 when President Hassan Rouhani began his first term in office.
Multi-Dimensional Support
The Rouhani administration is optimistic that giving financial, technical and advisory support can help startups and tech firms expand their businesses and consequently curb the country's reliance on oil revenues.
Iran National Innovation Fund, affiliated to the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology, and other tech authorities have played a major role in extending vital resources.
The Rouhani administration established the fund with an initial investment of 30 trillion rials ($181 million). As per the law, the government is required to allocate 0.5% of its annual budget to INIF.
The fund’s officials say INIF will continue to give support to fledgling tech firms.
Officials at INIF said the fund will offer 10 trillion rials ($60.6 million) as loans to fledgling startups and tech firms in the new Iranian year (started March 20).
The money is said to be paid to tech units requiring financial aid to the tune of 5 billion rials ($30,300) through INIF's 38 provincial branches.
Growing Ecosystem
Over the past few years, numerous tech parks have been established throughout the country.
Currently, there are seven tech parks in Tehran Province, most of which are backed by major Iranian universities, including Tarbiat Modarres 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.
For instance, Pardis Technology Park in eastern Tehran also has strong ties with the Iranian academia.
Housing about 3,500 people in 1,000 firms and startups, Pardis Tech Park is one of the most distinguished innovation centers in the capital.
According to Akbar Qanbarpour, a deputy head of the park, talented teams in the center have developed over 1,000 innovative products using modern technologies since a decade ago.
Tehran is not alone in its push for establishing innovation factories and tech parks. Many such centers have also been launched in other Iranian provinces.
Innovation factories are to be launched in Iranian metropolises, such as Arak, Yazd, Isfahan, Tabriz and Shiraz, by the Vice Presidential Office to expand the country’s startup and knowledge-based ecosystems.
