The Iranian government and academia have jointly launched technology centers in three cities to expand startup and knowledge-based ecosystems. The centers are based in Arak, the provincial center of Markazi, Isfahan in the namesake province and the northern city of Sari in Mazandaran Province.
Early this week, Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari visited the state-run Arak University and inaugurated an innovation center called “Mobin”.
The center is mandated to support startups and knowledge-based companies set up by students and tech enthusiasts in the city, the vice presidential office’s website, Isti.ir reported.
The vice presidential office and the university have jointly financed the project.
According to university officials, the tech center will help promote scientific and technological researches related to urban management and people’s everyday life.
During his visit, Sattari also launched an innovation center at the Islamic Azad University of Arak.
The center offers workspace for startups and over 40 tech teams. A startup accelerator, an ICT developer and a mentorship office also help the tech teams. It would offer support to startups active in the fields of apparel design, agriculture, health, recycling, culture and art, and chemicals.
In a meeting with provincial authorities, Sattari said the linkup of startup ecosystem and conventional industries should be encouraged, as it would benefit both sides.
“Startups can inject new technologies into conventional businesses, helping them develop high-tech products and upgrade their machinery,” he said, stressing that cooperation with well-developed industries can push fledgling tech teams to expand their activities and gain experience.
Sattari also visited an exhibition of products developed by the local tech firms.
Projects in Isfahan
Islamic Azad University of Isfahan has stepped in to develop the province’s technology ecosystem by launching five innovation centers.
Majid Toghyani, an official with the university, said these innovation centers are specialized in herbal medicine, information and communication technologies, carpet weaving, seeds and greenhouse emissions.
“In each center, startup growth centers, accelerators, creativity schools and commercialization offices will help the startups expand their activities,” he said.
Over 12 startups and 200 knowledge-based companies have so far settled in innovation centers.
Toghyani noted that university students can enrich their academic dissertations and research projects by interacting with startups and developing problem solving ideas.
Tech Tower in Mazandaran
In another effort, the science and technology park of Sari is planning to launch Mazandaran Province’s first tech tower.
During a Saturday meeting with the project team, Ali Motamedzadegan, the head of tech park, said the tower will be built with 10 stories on 700 square meters inside the park’s territory.
“The construction of the tower is estimated to cost 75 million rials [$288] per square meter. A part of the budget will be supplied by knowledge-based firms at the tech park and private investors. The government has promised to pay low-interest loans to accelerate the project,” he said.
Motamedzadegan noted that proximity to the University of Sari, 10 academic centers and other firms at the tech park are some of the advantages of the tower, making it a productive workspace for fledgling startups and knowledge-based companies.
The construction will commence as soon as the required permits are received. The tower is estimated to become operational within a year.
Nationwide Efforts
Extending support to new startups and technology firms has been on the government's agenda since 2013 when President Hassan Rouhani started his first tenure.
Over the past few years, numerous tech parks and innovation factories have been established throughout the country to offer shared workspaces 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, Mashhad, 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 to end the economy’s oil dependency and help overcome sanctions.
