In 2018, the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter took stronger steps toward the change of science and technology discourse and knowledge-based economy into dominant discourse of Iranians. Holding the second national, cultural, and art festival of made in Iran festival was one of these measures.

According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, more than one hundred years have passed. Oil was discovered in Masjed Soleiman by the English. On that day, everyone was happy that the wheel of economy would be improved by this dark material. Since then, we have relied on our belongings. However, those days are over. The sweet taste of money earned from selling oil has degraded us.

Move toward the Second Generation of Startups

One of the most important concerns of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter in 2018 was movement of first-generation startups toward the second-generation startups. First generations are more active in the field of services and based on the Internet. The knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter moved toward industrial, technological, product-based and specialized startups by laying the foundation in this regard.

All Potentials Were Used for Discoursing

The headquarter has aimed to use all potentials existing in the country and various types of media to promote knowledge-based economy discourse. In this regard, measures have been taken such as production of educational films, documentaries, movies, use of social media, phones, the Internet, production of educational computer games (especially related to knowledge-based economy), holding conferences and seminars in universities and industrial centers and holding specialized roundtables in universities.

Students Became the Center of Attention

In this path, the culture-building activities of students was recognized as one of the most important measures. In this regard, creating a student section in different festivals and exhibitions, student biotechnology festival, national student innovation competitions, sea festival, medical plants festival and nanotechnology festivals was supported. This act is associated with the familiarization of future-making individuals of the country with the concept of knowledge-based economy, so that the entrance of their innovation and creativity in the society could be observed in the future.

Meanwhile, book publication has attracted the attention of the headquarter, such as books of “striving for the development of the ecosystem of knowledge-based economy”, “strategy of knowledge-based production”, “position of knowledge-based companies in economy of resistance”, “a review of science, technology and innovation policies (UNCTAD)”, “startup society”, “future of marine technologies”, knowledge-based monthly journal, SarAmad monthly journal and recognition of Silicon Valley.

Culture-building of Knowledge-based economy in TV and Media Programs

Producing radio and TV programs is one of the activities that helped the realization of culture-building and discoursing of knowledge-based economy. The headquarter has entered this area and has produced various TV programs to showcase the achievements of science and technology field and their importance to the public. In this regard, programs such as “Nasim Danesh”, “Dot IR”, “Bar Bonian Danesh”, “Sefr ta Sad”, “Lezate Elm & Danesh”, “Dirin Dirin Animations” and a program on technological innovation businesses. In addition, production of documentaries and TV programs, such as Takht Soleiman, Charkh, Puzzle, Kilid, Motad be Naft, Barname Eghtesad 5, Mosbat & Manfi and Jivegi, has been supported by the headquarter.

Artists Gather to Support Iranian Products  

One of the most important measures taken by the headquarter has been the holding of the national, cultural, and art festival of Made in Iran. Last year, the second round of the event was held in a year called the year of “support of Iranian products” by the Supreme Leader. July 2018 was another start for Made in Iran to be in line with the artists. Publication of the call for the second round of the festival has been carried out with the promotion and culture-building of support of Iranian products.

Holding the “Made in Iran” involves six major goals, including culture building the knowledge-based economy to help the realization of support of Iranian products, culture-building to support the production of Iranian products and increasing occupation for human capitals of the country, prohibiting excessive import of products with domestic counterparts that have an acceptable quality, laying the foundation for flourishing of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem with the approach of occupation creation, culture-building, promotion and distribution of works produced in the cyberspace, media and IRIB with the help of cultural and art activists and elements of the country so that branding and commercializing the high-quality Iranian knowledge-based products could be improved.

The second festival of “Made in Iran” invited those interested in fields of literature, visual arts, audiovisual media, digital media, idea market and student section so that the importance of Iranian products could be expressed through art. In addition, focus of the call on benefiting all potentials and capacities of art field has been in line with culture-building and prompting the support of Iranian products.

After announcing the call, artists came to the field to play a role in the path of supporting Iranian products through art. In total, two thousand and 824 artists applied for the festival.

In this round of the event, 474 works were sent to the literature section of the festival. In addition, 840 works were delivered to the visual art section. On the other hand, 909 works were sent to the audiovisual section, and 264 works were delivered to the digital media section. In this round, 230 works were delivered to the idea market section. After the evaluation of the works, the selected ones were entered into the festival.

The closing ceremony of the festival was held in the house of artists in the presence of Sorena Sattari and a number of artists and authorities.

As known, design of programs is carried out in the headquarter in a way that all audiences are covered.