This morning, the procedure for concluding the contract for granting facilities, Note 16 of the budget law, between non-governmental research and technology funds, the Presidential Innovation and Prosperity Fund and the Melli Bank, in the presence of Ruhollah Dehghani, Vice President of Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, Ehsan Khandozi Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Ali Vahdat, Chairman of the Executive Board of Innovation and Prosperity Fund, Abolfazl Najjarzadeh, CEO of Melli Bank of Iran, Seyed Mohsen Dehnavi, Member of Parliament, and Mojtaba Tawanger, Member of Parliament, were held at Ferdowsi Hall of Melli Bank.

The facilities of this note to support the development of employment in innovative (startup), technological, knowledge-based and creative companies through the development of a dedicated innovation financing system, for the payment of loan facilities to research and technology funds with a ceiling approved by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance and the Innovation Fund and the prosperity of the presidency and the maximum repayment period of 60 months is allocated, and the said facility will be payable up to One Billion Rials with the validation of the applicant and a valid guarantor.

Research and technology fund facilities are deposited today

In this ceremony, Economy Minister Khandozi congratulated the Fajr decade and thanked God for the efforts made, and said: All the facilities that have been provided in today's memorandum of understanding to help the research and technology funds have been deposited today in different provinces.

He expressed his hope that 40 thousand billion tomans, which as a policy initiative for the first time allows banks to participate in providing facilities to knowledge foundations, will happen in March of this year.

Regarding the pathology that has been done in this ministry towards knowledge-based companies, the Minister of Economy stated: Our pathology is that the players of knowledge-based economy face the most limitations and challenges in financing. The important point in this regard is the issue of different documents regarding the investment of these companies with other economic actors. We moved in two directions and prepared the preparations for it this year, God willing, it will bear fruit in 2023.

He added: Another issue is the issue of warranty, which is important for these companies. It is more necessary to provide guarantees and institutional facilities for companies. The role of guarantee in the world is much more important than the role of bank facilities. But it has not been taken seriously in the country. Here, we ask Dr. Dehghani Firouzabadi, the vice president of science, technology and knowledge-based economy, to help make this happen.

Khandozi stated: secondly, the path of validation of knowledge-based companies, which we need to take measures to realize and implement. Of course, good preparations have been started with the cooperation of the Vice Presidency of Science, which is a long-term platform for the activities of knowledge-based companies both in the guarantee institution and in the validation institution.

In the end, he expressed hope that in the coming years, we will see the active participation of the banking system to activate the ecosystem of knowledge-based companies.

Note 16 of the budget law is a blessing for knowledge-based companies

Ali Vahdat also stated in this ceremony that the knowledge-based economy has its own requirements and said: the discussion of financing these companies also has its own ecosystem, which includes various components such as the capital market, banks, insurances, the innovation fund and the prosperity of the presidency.

Pointing out that the cooperation of banks with the innovation ecosystem in the country is very desirable, he added: In recent years, banks have provided great help in providing facilities to knowledge-based companies, and on the other hand, knowledge-based companies have greatly increased their credibility with banks. Not a single item of the guarantees that the banks issued has not returned, not even a single item of the facility has passed its due date. Banks view knowledge-based companies as very good customers.

The Chairman of the Executive Board of Innovation and Prosperity Fund said: A capacity of 40 thousand billion Tomans was planned, we hope it will be done quickly, its infrastructure has been done with joint companies with banks.

Pointing out that this year we are behind in providing the facilities provided in Note 16 of the budget law, he said: Some banks, such as the Melli Bank, have performed well in allocating facilities, which is appreciable.

Thanking the government and parliament, he said: Note 16 of the budget law is a blessing for knowledge-based companies.

Observance of geographical justice throughout the country in the payment of facilities

Najarzadeh, head of the Melli Bank, also stated in this ceremony that this bank has allocated facilities in line with supporting the great policies of the Supreme Leader of the revolution and to support knowledge-based companies, and noted: We considered a credit process for knowledge-based companies. According to the supportive view, today we will pay 700 billion Tomans for the conclusion of the contract in line with the commitments.

He added: We observe geographical justice throughout the country in the payment of facilities.

Vice Presidency of Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy