Research production of coronavirus drug therapy, daily mask production ceiling in the country to reach 300,000 by the end of the week and production of diagnostic kits are among the tasks announced by the members of corona fight committee and the vice president for science and technology affairs in today’s press conference.

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 that physicians, nurses and healthcare staff are at the front of the fight against corona, stating: since the first days of coronavirus outbreak, the Vice-Presidency has focused on this area in cooperation with related organizations such as the ministry of health and food and drug organization and by announcing campaigns and calls to increase synergy throughout the ecosystem.

Presenting a report of activities conducted in this area, Sattari marked: in the matter of mask production, by changing the product lines of some companies, we were able to increase the daily production of N95 and N99 masks required by the medical and hospital staff in the country to 200,000. We hope to reach 300,000 masks a day by the weekend.

Equipment Production Ability

The president of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter pointed out the scientific and technological infrastructures created in the past few years, adding: this volume of production equipment and requirements is an important capability, in addition, Iran is one of the few countries capable of producing nanofilter paper fiber equipment and devices used in mask production.

Emphasizing the unknown nature of the virus, the vice president for science and technology affairs continued: all innovation ecosystem capacity has been focused on this topic and are active in all areas related to the disease. With the exception of treatment dimensions and drug production, there are knowledge-based companies that provide services and products to help reduce needs in this field.

Sattari also talked about educational and content producing startups that have presented products in response to the call made by the Vice-Presidency.

Activity of 600 Companies in the Field of Biotechnology

The vice president for science and technology affairs explained the call and campaign run by the Vice-Presidency to support activities based on innovation and technology in the nano and bio fields to fight the virus by knowledge-based companies and startups, adding: support is made in various fields such as content production, education and service production to reduce unnecessary stress in society.

Selecting Five Companies for Production of Diagnostic Kits

Mostafa Ghanei, the secretary of the biotechnology development headquarter, pointed out the establishment of 600 knowledge-based companies in the field of biotechnology in the country, expressing: this capacity has evolved over the years and has been able to respond to the needs of the virus in the shortest amount of time. Producing drugs for the infected people is another measure taken by the Vice-Presidency in cooperation with the ministry of health. In this regard, Ghanei affirmed: if approved by the ethics committee of the ministry of health, the drug can be entered into the clinical cycle.

Extensive Welcoming of the Call of #We_will_beat_coronavirus

By establishing a committee to fight corona and call names “#We_will_beat_coronavirus with the help of the innovation and technology ecosystem” the Vice-Presidency invited knowledge-based companies and startups active in the ecosystem to attend this natio9nal challenge with the support of the Vice-Presidency.

Parviz Karami, the secretary of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter, pointed out the projects sent to the secretariat of the campaign, adding: knowledge-based companies active in various field such as nanotechnology, lab equipment, biotechnology, stem cells and other advanced and strategic technologies have announced their preparation to fully cooperate with the call.

According to the advisor to the vice president for science and technology affairs, not only companies, but also startups have sent different projects to fight or alleviate the signs of the virus to teach the society and heighten its awareness in this regard.

Presenting Some Drugs in Case of Achieving the Necessary Licenses

Given the explanations provided during the meeting, it is expected that the drugs produced with the support of the Vice-Presidency enter the clinical cycle during the next 10-14 days after receiving licenses from the ministry of health.

In addition, a special committee has been formed to fight corona using various experts in fields of nano, pharmacy, epidemiology and infectious diseases.

Report on Measures

According to the head of the information and communication center of the Vice-Presidency, the committee to fight corona presented a report on the activities performed in the last 10 days before the meeting.

Currently, the campaign of #we_will_beat_corona and the committee to fight the coronavirus have taken measures in different fields such as mask production, drugs and disinfectant compounds.