According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, Esmaeil Ghaderifar, head of the strategic technologies development center, expressed in the press conference of the fourth national festival of medical plants and traditional medicine: startups and creative companies will be supported in the form of a new program by the Vice-Presidency. Given the importance of flourishing of these businesses in all technological fields, development of specialized accelerators in various strategic technologies areas, including digital health of medical plants, water, new energies, environment, and wastewater management has been put of the agenda of the center.

Ghaderifar pointed out the provision of infrastructural facilities to develop specialized accelerators and for modeling in this area, adding: this year’s exhibition is a suitable opportunity for recognizing the potential markets and persuading and guiding the private sector investors to invest in creative areas and products with high potentials in order to create the first private sector accelerator of medical plants and traditional medicine.

Ghaderifar pointed out the necessity of promotion and culture building in the area of knowledge and technology of medical plants and traditional medicine as one of the capacities of the country used to realize the knowledge-based economy, asserting: promotion, culture building and expanding the approach of attention to science and technology to realize knowledge-based economy is one of the serious priorities of the Vice-Presidency. In this regard, one of the measures taken is holding the national festival and exhibition of medical plants. Fortunately, we have been successful in this area up to this day.

Ghaderifar continued that since ancient times, Iranians have been familiarized with medical plants, traditional medicine and relevant products. Rich achievements in this field are observed in the domestic culture and written texts of the country.

Head of the strategic technologies development center mentioned the mediating and facilitating role of the medical plants sciences and technologies development headquarter in the path of added value creation and knowledge of medical plants, affirming: this headquarter acts as a mediating circle as one of the subcategories of the Vice-Presidency. In its long-term activities, it has been able to exert acceptable impacts on culture building and booming of this region.

Ghaderifar expressed that the national exhibition and festival of medical plants with the culture building and promotional approach has aimed to use the capacities of the region in production of added value and flourishing of knowledge-based and creative businesses. In this regard, he added: we have aimed to hold specialized events and promotional programs in addition to the festival. Specifically, in this year’s exhibition, the role of accelerators, technomarts, and other mediating and constructive circles will be presented to create cooperation between the companies of the field and bring the private sector investor to the field in order to take a step toward the flourishing of knowledge-based economy.  

According to Ghaderifar, this exhibition is more superior than other events of the country in terms of specialized and public issues. He also stated: during the exhibition days, we will try to open new doors to sustainable occupation in the medical plants field and better development of export of products in this area.