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, pointed out the dependence of development of the country on the formation of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the society environment during the 5^th international conference of science and technology parks (IASP2018), adding: knowledge-based economy is possible by turning the environment of cities toward the foundation for technology and innovation.

Sattari pointed out that these cities can be turned into the foundation for economy and occupation by making them smart and technological. In this regard, he continued: the society frame of cities must be turned into a foundation for growth of creativity and innovation of human resources by culture building and change of approach. In this respect, formation of a new culture means that education is no longer limited to a specific time and space, and citizens can always be trained.

He continued: in this regard, various mechanisms for development of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the society, such as programs to support innovation and technology commercialization in universities and research centers of industries, motivation of demand and creation of ability to extend the market of knowledge-based services and products, support of development of strategic technologies and performing macro demand-oriented projects, and support of formation and development of knowledge-based companies are among the topics, attention to which is of paramount importance. Therefore, the Vice-Presidency has aimed to prioritize these issues.

Organization of Innovation System; the Most Important Mission of Government

President of the knowledge-based economy and culture building development headquarter regarded the expansion of unit infrastructures and organization of innovation system in the country as the most important mission of the government, expressing: development of various models for innovation and technology financial supply, such as venture capitals, guiding government purchases, and empowering foreign investment, to improve knowledge-based companies, support of effective processors in the private sector and development of businesses and formation of industries based on knowledge and using the capacities of universities to form startup activities, as well as the development of innovation centers and accelerators can play an effective and instructive role in the formation of knowledge-based ecosystem.

President of the national elites foundation pointed out the role of education and universities in the path of flourishing the abilities of human resources as the most important asset of innovation ecosystem.

Tendencies of Investors toward Knowledge-based Businesses

Sattari emphasized the importance of providing a proper space for knowledge-based businesses and creative and innovative startups, expressing: development of these businesses in the past few years has been the result of change of cultural direction and serious determination to move toward the flourishing of knowledge-based businesses. This model must be implemented in all cities.

The vice president for science and technology affairs mentioned the booming of startups and knowledge-based businesses along with increased tendency of innovation ecosystem entrepreneurs in universities of the country.

Sattari considered the constructive role of promotion of culture of science and technology parks and growth centers in city space as the key factor for the formation of a suitable knowledge-based environment.

Share of Occupation in Knowledge-based and Technological Companies

The vice president for science and technology affairs pointed out the increased role of knowledge-based companies and startups in economic development of the country, claiming: knowledge-based companies and startups have an acceptable share of the market and occupation of graduates of the country, prepared for transnational development and serious entering international collaborations.

He also expressed that soon businesses will take the place of the largest traditional industries, asserting: these companies can transform the former structures using the innovations of human resources.

He regarded the 90% market share in the electronic business part of the country by knowledge-based companies as an opportunity to turn Iran into the pole of information and communication technology of the region, affirming: Iran has the highest share of internet users, which is the main ability to form the largest knowledge-based companies and startups in the region.

Innovation centers in universities, venture capitals, and private and specialized accelerators are some of these implementations, which have had a considerable development in the past few years.

According to this report, the 35^th IASP 2018 is inaugurated today in the presence of the vice president for science and technology affairs, and minister of science, research and technology, governor of Isfahan hosted by the science and research town of Isfahan.

In this conference, which will be held with the title of “toward sustainable cities and societies, flourishing and promoting innovation ecosystems”, a total of 158 articles have been received by the secretariat of the event from 30 countries, 53 of which were selected and 27 will be presented orally.

Creating the foundation for exchange of opinion among science and technology parks of the world was one of the goals of holding this conference, during which bilateral negotiations were held between managers of domestic and foreign parks.

This science and technology conference will be attended by the head and general secretary of society of science and technology parks of the world, minister of science of Afghanistan, ambassadors of more than 30 countries of the world and experts of science and technology parks of 50 countries of the world.