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 the formation of an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem as the most important necessity to apply the talents of women in the knowledge-based economy during the conference of “role of information and communication technology in empowerment of women”, which was held in the presence of Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, minister of information and communication technology and Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Ability of Information and Communication Technology to Improve the Abilities of Women

Sattari pointed out the unique capacity of information and communication technology in the formation of knowledge-based businesses and startups of women, stating: the ICT is a proper foundation for presence of women in knowledge-based entrepreneurial fields regardless of previous attitudes toward the abilities of women in the area of innovation based on the intelligence, efficiency and innovation of this new environment.

He continued: information and communication technology creates the foundation for employment of women, who are allocated a share of 55% of computer science graduates, in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The vice president for science and technology affairs emphasized the necessity of support of startups and knowledge-based companies of women by investors of the private sector, affirming: we need to dedicate extensive effort to create the foundation for presence of venture capitals in knowledge-based businesses of women and provide the space to change the attitude of the investors of the private sector toward the innovations of women.

Creation of an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

President of the knowledge-based economy, technology and science development headquarter regarded the presence of women in management of more than 350 knowledge-based companies as a criterion for the efficiency of this group of people and necessity of providing an opportunity for their presence. In this regard, Sattari affirmed: today, women have a share 25% in management of knowledge-based companies.

Necessity of Using the Capacity of Academics in Knowledge-based Economy

President of the national elites foundation pointed out the inaccurate statistics on emigration of Iranian students, mentioning: in the beginning of the Islamic revolution, 100 out of 270 thousand Iranian students were studying abroad, 50 thousand of whom were in America. Meanwhile, from the current four million and 700 thousand Iranian students, only 48 thousand students are studying abroad, 12 thousand of whom study in America. This indicates that Iran is not among the top countries with high emigration rates.

He continued: valid and official statistics on the emigration of students are announced by international units (e.g., the United Nations) every year, according to which after China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and India, Iran is not among the top student-sending countries.

Sattari also pointed out the role of women in academic educations, conveying: currently, more than 50% of university entrances are assigned to women. In addition, 49% of outputs of universities and higher education centers of the country is allocated to women of Iran. Therefore, the foundation must be laid for their activities in various businesses.

The meeting of “role of information and communication technology in empowering women” was held in the presence of Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, deputy for women’s affairs, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, minister of information and communication technology, and a number of senior managers and experts of the country and active women in the area of management and occupation.

Some of the goals of this event included promotion and improvement of knowledge about the role of information and communication technology in empowering of women and evaluation of strategies that can increase the management abilities of women in various sections by holding specialized panels.