Gov’t Launches Multiple Tech Projects Worth $15.5 Million

President Hassan Rouhani launched multiple tech development projects worth 3.84 trillion rials ($15.5 million) on Monday, creating 1,195 jobs nationwide.
Accompanied by Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari, President Rouhani inaugurated the projects via videoconference, the office’s website Isti.ir reported.
The first project coming on stream was a tech house called Behzad (shortened as B), which specializes in art. The house is an upgraded historical building once owned by Hossein Behzad (1894-1968), a prominent Iranian painter. The entire effort was meant to pay homage to the artist.
The house, located in central Tehran, aims to provide a platform for entrepreneurs exploring soft technologies in culture, handicrafts, and art. It also intends to serve as a permanent exhibition and shop selling unique Iranian artworks.
According to officials, tech houses, which are smaller versions of innovation factories, are the driving force behind local entrepreneurship across the country. Such houses are designed to support entrepreneurs whose enterprises are not classified as knowledge-based.