Government entities and academia have forged agreements to further develop the domestic technology ecosystem.
The project to establish a new tech zone in the city’s District 6, which is to be managed by the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology and Tarbiat Modares University, will provide startups and knowledge-based companies with support for expansion of ties linking scientific, industrial and economic sectors, the office’s website Isti.ir reported.
A 380-sqm space in the vicinity of the university will be designated for the project.
According to the report, when completed, the center will attract and provide shared working space for tech units with ties to the university.
University of Tehran will also collaborate in the project, but would play a less active role compared to the other two participants.
Experts believe that the scientific potential in Tarbiat Modares University and Tehran University’s Faculty of Engineering and its affiliated colleges will have a constructive effect on the growth of would-be tech zone.
The invaluable experience of launching the first tech zone in Tehran last year applauded the vice presidential office to develop similar projects and take more steps toward expanding the city’s startup ecosystem.
In January 2019, Sharif University of Technology and Tehran Municipality jointly established an “Innovation Zone” in central Tehran to house startups and emerging technology firms.
The zone is built on 250 hectares that incorporate the prestigious center of higher learning and its Science and Technology Park to assist startups, knowledge-based firms and tech companies. Today, over 500 startups have set up offices in the zone.
More Projects Underway
Another good news for startups and fledgling tech units is that the National Library and Archives of Iran is collaborating with the vice presidential office to launch a center for innovation and expansion of data-oriented businesses.
According to Babak Zendehdel, an official with NLA, the center which is to be partially launched in late July, will provide working places for entrepreneurs and owners of startup ideas in the field of librarianship and archival science.
“The center is expected to become at least 80% operational by the end of the current Iranian year [March 2021],” he said.
Utilizing the local potentials and entrepreneurship of the tech ecosystem is necessary for upgrading the productivity of NLA, Zendehdel added, stressing that by neglecting innovative ideas and technology, no organization can survive in the market.
The only way to meet today’s demand for the collection, process and presentation of classified information in a systematic and speedy manner, is to embed modern technology in the workplace.
The Information and Communication Technologies Ministry is the other institution taking steps for developing the knowledge-based ecosystem.
According to the ministry’s website Ict.gov.ir, during a Monday meeting in Tehran, the ministry-affiliated ICT Research Institute and ICT Park negotiated to establish a startup growth center.
Vahid Yazdanian, the head of ICTRI, said the joint initiative will boost the growth of knowledge-based companies in the field of ICT.
“The institution is ready to start the implementation of the project and apply for the required permits,” he added.
Growing Trend
The establishment of tech centers and innovation factories has gained momentum across Iran over the past several years.
The move has accelerated since President Hassan Rouhani began his first term in office in 2013 and focused on extending greater support to new startups and technology firms.
Over the past few years, numerous tech parks have been established throughout the country.
Naturally, the Iranian capital city, Tehran, pioneers the trend with two innovation factories.
The first of its kind in the metropolis, dubbed 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 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 in northeastern Tehran.
Besides Tehran, the vice presidential office has financed several other innovation factories in Iranian metropolises to expand the startup and knowledge-based ecosystems.
According to Qaderifar, innovation factory projects in the provinces of Markazi and Fars are almost complete and will become operational in the coming months.
The Roads and Urban Development Ministry, municipalities and governorates in the host cities are assisting the vice presidential office in implementing these projects.
At the innovation factories, startups and knowledge-based companies find legal, technical and financial support to expand their activities.
