According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs, regarded knowledge-based products as one of the necessities of flourishing of this area on the opening ceremony of the fourth national festival and exhibition of medical plants and traditional medicine, expressing: the aim of knowledge-based economy is avoiding selling raw materials and presenting abundant knowledge-based products. In this regard, the Vice-Presidency has designed various plans to prevent selling raw materials and has a special approach in the medical plants area.

Sattari considered the significant capacity of the young and educated human resources of the country an opportunity for knowledge-based economy in passing from selling raw materials, adding: in fact, with more than 30 million young society members and approximately five million students, Iran is one of the best countries of the world regarding human resources. By modifying how human resources are injected into knowledge and industry based on an efficient pattern, we can see the creation of high added-value and the development of the economy.

He also explained: fortunately, the majority of the companies in the area of medical plants and traditional medicine are private and have had significant growth in these years. Therefore, they must be regarded as a model for other countries. We must realize that reliance of the government investment will prevent the entrance of innovation into these areas.

The vice president for science and technology affairs pointed out the potential capacity of medical plants industry and the necessity of links between these capacities and innovation, affirming: for instance, 95% of the world’s need in the saffron area is met by Iran. However, a small share of the value added of this amount returns to the country"s economic cycle, correction of which requires passing from selling raw materials and entering new technological fields.

Moreover, Sattari mentioned: the serious program of the Vice-Presidency is developing the intermediary companies in the medication field, which increases the culture of medical plants and added value of these products and will eventually lead to a great transformation in the agriculture area by product manufacturing.

The vice president for science and technology affairs pointed out medical fields in livestock and poultry products, asserting: in the field of livestock and poultry, medicines and food products with plant and plant bases are new, and the development of this process can bring significant added value for this area.

The fourth national festival and exhibition of medical plants, natural products and Iranian medicine (traditional) will be held November 11^th-14^th 2018 in Musala of Tehran by the efforts of the medicinal plants and traditional medicine sciences and technologies development headquarter.