Iran’s Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology has inaugurated several technology projects in the western province of Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari to buttress the local startup ecosystem.
During a Tuesday visit to the province, Vice President Sorena Sattari launched three startup accelerators in Boroujen and Lordegan counties, as well as Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in the province's namesake city via videoconference, IRNA reported.
With the latest induction, the number of accelerators in the province has increased to six, according to Esmaeil Pirali, chairman of the local science and technology park.
During the event, 4.3 hectares were also ceded to the tech park's area, bringing the total to 5 hectares with 6,000 square meters of workshop space.
“In 2015, the park area was only 5,200 square meters,” the official added.
The park, which was established in 2013, accommodates 205 tech teams, startups, growth centers, consultation teams and accelerators, creating over 1,000 jobs.
According to Pirali, the local tech ecosystem generates 2.3 trillion rials ($9.2 million) in annual revenue.
“Despite the detrimental impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the domestic economy, the tech teams registered an export value of $500,000 in the previous Iranian year [ending March 2021],” he added.
Later in the event, Sattari launched two industrial innovation buildings at the tech park and three tech centers in Boroujen and Lordegan counties via videoconference.
He also visited an exhibition of knowledge-based products featured by local startups at the tech park.
Previous Inaugurations
In the previous series of inaugurations, tech projects were unveiled in Shiraz, the provincial center of Fars.
Last week, Sattari visited the city and inaugurated an innovation center at Shiraz University of Technology. Spread over 375 square meters, the center already accommodates seven tech teams.
The university offers mentorship to startups in a variety of fields and helps them commercialize their products.
According to the center’s managers, budding tech teams’ interaction with their peers and academia boosts their technical and scientific competence.
Sattari launched another academia-backed tech center at the Shiraz University of Medical Science.
The center covers a 250-sqm land in the university’s campus and aims to gather entrepreneurs, the elite and tech enthusiasts to nurture their unique ideas.
The third project was a production line for automotive electronic components, launched by a local knowledge-based company, Andisheh Electronics.
Eight high-tech electronic auto parts, including central lock and computer control systems, are expected to be developed by the company.
According to Andisheh Electronics, the targeted parts are being imported at high prices and the localization effort will considerably reduce the capital flight.
The State University of Shiraz also opened two tech centers, namely the second phase of Fars Innovative Valley and the human sciences tech center.
According to the university officials, the Fars Innovative Valley project is jointly managed by the university and the city’s science and technology park.
Shared workspace and workshop are provided to startups and knowledge-based companies in the valley.
The project’s first phase was inaugurated last year in the summer, gathering a group of accelerator teams, investors and mentors to help promote the local technology ecosystem.
The human science innovation center, spanning over 600 sqm, is designed to accommodate 15 tech teams and two accelerators. Startups active in law, science, politics, innovative industries, management and art have an opportunity to join the center.
Nationwide Efforts
Over the past few years, numerous tech parks and innovation factories have been established throughout the country to offer shared workspace and other facilities to tech units.
There are seven tech parks in Tehran Province, most of which are backed by major Iranian universities, including Tarbiat Modares 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. Innovation factories in Tehran, such as Azadi and Highway, have also attracted numerous tech teams and startups.
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 for Science and Technology 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 on the northeastern flank of Tehran.
Tehran is not alone in its push for establishing innovation factories and tech parks. Numerous centers have also been launched across Iran.
The vice presidential office is developing innovation factories in Iranian metropolises like Zanjan, Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj and Yazd to expand startup and knowledge-based ecosystems.
At the innovation factories, startups and knowledge-based companies find legal, technical and financial help to develop their activities.
With the extension of infrastructural and financial support, those who are active in the tech ecosystem are propelling Iran’s domestic production sector to end the economy’s oil dependency and help overcome sanctions.
