The Vice Presidential Office of Science and Technology has held 384 educational courses in a range of subjects to assist the development of tech-based firms and startups.
The educational and training packages, organized and funded by the vice presidential office's International Technology Relations Department, will be provided to applicants as online or in-person courses at a number of authorized institutions across the country, Isti.ir reported.
Machinery development, power and electronics, advanced materials, information and communications technologies, modern medicine, medical equipment, ecological technology, commercialization, international negotiations and economic policies, global marketing management, international correspondence, exports and international business basics are among the topics covered in the courses.
According to the report, the vice presidential office pays for over 70% of the course fee, while applicant teams and companies benefit from advanced training material for 30% of the cost.
The plan's underlying principle is that theoretical and professional knowledge are prerequisites for an economic organization or enterprise in every sphere of business, which primarily defines a company's competency and potential for widening its global appeal.
Experts believe that export market entry, mastery of cross-border transportation and financial transactions, and familiarity with international commerce are critical qualities every major organization should grasp for future growth.
By offering a comprehensive training package, the vice presidential office will help strengthen the domestic technology ecosystem.
According to the office, the educational materials provided to applicants are more extensive than the typical mentorship provided to companies at tech centers. The courses delve into all aspects of the topics and provide thorough information.
In accordance with the government’s policy of providing comprehensive support to the knowledge-based community, the vice presidential office has taken a number of measures to expand the ecosystem by disseminating the latest know-how and technology. Startup gatherings and short, intensive courses are an example of such measures.
Gov’t-Hosted Events, Workshops
Before the coronavirus pandemic reached Iran in February 2020 and interrupted many public events, the vice presidential office was holding weekly startup events and tech workshops to accelerate the growth of startups.
The office announced that it held 26 boot camps in different areas of technology during March-September 2019 to train tech teams and startups for the job market.
Officials said these camps were held to utilize the potentials of young tech enthusiasts to address the needs of different economic sectors.
The events were conducted by professionals in artificial intelligence, Android programming, blockchain, internet of things, web programming, digital marketing, cloud computing and big data.
According to the officials, during these boot camps, graduates, students and enthusiasts gathered in an educational and experimental environment, grasping the know-how of developing their businesses.
Boot camps have emerged as a popular way to quickly gain marketable skills that organizations are looking for.
The events are typically short, lasting anywhere from several days to a month, depending on the subject.
This makes boot camps not only affordable and time-saving when compared with university degree programs, but easier to fit into busy schedules for working professionals.
Boot camps also offer an alternative to recap courses held by organizations, as they help qualified workers get up to speed on new skills.
The vice presidential office says that in view of the expanding role of technology ecosystem, such specialized training courses will both empower the business acumen of tech firms and startups, and strengthen their ties with the conventional economic sectors.
Iranian policymakers believe the commercialization of smart services and products offered by homegrown tech firms and startups will reduce Iran's reliance on oil revenues and materialize a digital economy.
That is why support for new startups and technology firms was prioritized by the former president, Hassan Rouhani, since he began his first tenure in 2013.
Growing Ecosystem
One such state support included the establishment of workplaces, tech parks, innovation factories and tech centers with access to professional mentors, consultants and investors.
Over the past few years, numerous tech centers have been established throughout the country.
The Iranian capital city, Tehran, pioneers the trend with two innovation factories.
The first innovation factory in the metropolis, dubbed Azadi Innovation Factory, was launched in August 2018 at an abandoned chemical 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 in northeastern Tehran.
Besides Tehran, the vice presidential office has also financed several other innovation factories in Iranian metropolises to expand the startup and knowledge-based ecosystems.
According to tech officials, 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.
