According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, Mahmoud Mehrdad Shokrieh, secretary of the advanced manufacturing and materials development headquarter, talked about knowledge-based companies and their challenges during the opening ceremony of the sixth international exhibition and conference on metallurgy & materials engineering of Iran: these companies must have effect on the gross national product through their innovations. In addition, they are expected to distribute creativity in traditional industries, effectively interact with university and industry and compete with other domestic and foreign producers. However, knowledge-based companies are faced with challenges in their path, which must be eliminated to improve their activities and effectiveness.

Secretary of the advanced manufacturing and materials development headquarter stated that the first step is learning about the current condition of Iran and its needs by idea owners and researchers. He continued: idea creation requires comprehensive knowledge. Therefore, by sitting in his office, a researcher cannot create applicable and innovative ideas. In addition, there are some inaccurate principles involved in our educational environment, lack of modification of which has significantly prevented advancement in this regard. This is mainly due to the fact that innovation space must be first created in educational centers. That is why we see that we have an acceptable rank in terms of article writing and publishing, whereas we are far from a favorable position regarding the registration of innovative outputs, including patents.

He also explained about nine technological preparation levels, affirming: most of our researchers have passed three technological preparation levels and are faced with problems after that phase since the other stages involves a high cost. Branding, research and development, examination, test and error, and standardization are some of the activities that require investment. However, venture capitals could offer a great deal of support.

According to Shokrieh, the path from idea creation to manufacturing of product requires investment and international interactions.

The sixth exhibition and conference on metallurgy & materials engineering of Iran known as IMAT2017 was held October 28^th-29^th, 2017 in Olympiad Hotel of Tehran as a gathering of specialists and activists of this field. This significant gathering in the field of materials and metallurgy industries was held to facilitate the presence and exchange of opinions and evaluation of possibility of safe investment in the area of mines and industries of Iran and to decrease economic dependence on oil industries.