The government’s initiatives for extending resources and facilities to develop the technology ecosystem are helping curb the country’s dependency on oil-based revenues and establish a knowledge-based economy.
State organizations have been active in all provinces, including the northwestern Markazi Province, to support tech expansion efforts.
Markazi Industrial Estates Corporation, according to ILNA, has been holding startup events to connect the tech ecosystem with the local industrial sectors.
According to Tayyeb Mirzaei, CEO of MIEC, over 40 startups and tech teams have signed contracts with regional industrial units and moved into the province's industrial towns through such startup events since the start of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2021).
"In the current fiscal year, the corporation has held three tech events with the goal of identifying innovative and talented small- and medium-sized enterprises, boosting entrepreneurship, encouraging private investments in the growing tech ecosystem and creating sustainable sources of income for local residents,” he said.
Over 40 startups have signed contracts with Markazi’s industrial units and moved into the province's industrial towns in the fiscal 2021-22
Mirzaei noted that in the industrial estates, startups and tech teams receive free technical mentorship and marketing advice for six months, financial support for hiring workforces in the first year of operation, and grants of up to 2.5 billion rials ($8,300) for participating in international tech shows.
Farzad Mokhles-al-Aemeh, Markazi's governor-general, told reporters that with the help of the province's knowledge-based companies, Markazi's economic growth index is expected to reach 7.2% in the next fiscal year (begins March 2022).
The official emphasized that the startup ecosystem already owns a significant share of regional industrial growth, which is expected to grow further with state support.
Aid Packages
Last month, Markazi Province’s Science and Technology Park announced that 210 billion rials ($700,000) have been granted to the park’s entrepreneurs as per the budget bill of the fiscal 2021-22.
According to Mohammad Rafiei, the park's director, the fund has been used to provide low-interest loans to small tech enterprises.
The amount of state budget allocation to the park did not reach 96 billion rials ($320,000) last year and it was only 35 billion rials ($116,000) in 2017, he added.
Rafiei noted that an additional 82 billion rials ($273,000) from the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology, as well as 10 billion rials ($33,000) from provincial resources, have been allocated to help develop the local technology sector.
Over 800 innovative teams and knowledge-based firms are currently based in the province's tech park that spans 8,500 square meters. The park offers shared workspace, labs, conference rooms and workshop facilities.
Rafiei highlighted the park's growth plans, saying that in the near future, it will be able to provide more acceleration services and facilities to the increasing number of startups.
Besides the financial packages, providing shared workspace has also gained traction among Iranian tech officials as elemental support for the startup community.
Tech Centers
In late 2020, the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology joined Arak University, in the namesake provincial capital city, to finance and launch 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.
According to university officials, the tech center fosters scientific and technological researches related to improving urban management and people’s everyday life.
Back then, Vice President Sorena 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 are also assisting the tech teams. It offers support to startups active in the fields of apparel design, agriculture, health, recycling, culture, arts and chemicals.
Nationwide Measures
Over the past few years, numerous tech parks and innovation factories have been established throughout the country to offer supportive 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 startups and knowledge-based enterprises.
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 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 tech-based ecosystems.
Innovation factories offer legal, technical and financial assistance to develop the activities of startups and knowledge-based companies.
With the extension of infrastructural and financial support, those who are active in the tech ecosystem are propelling Iran’s domestic production sector to help overcome sanctions by finding new sources of sustainable income.
