In a meeting with the members of the academy of sciences of Iran, the vice president for science and technology affairs talked about the importance of soft technologies and humanities in the development of knowledge-based economy and necessities for improvement of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem owing to creative development and product-based nature of the field.

According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, the Academy of Sciences of Iran hosted Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs, on December 11^th, 2019.

During the meeting, Sattari presented a report on the current status of the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and the position of knowledge-based and startup businesses.

The president of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter mentioned that the infrastructural and cultural support of improvement of the innovation ecosystem is an important mission of all decision-making and effective parts of the society, asserting: we have taken a step forward in the boom of this ecosystem that is evident in the boom in science-based and startup businesses.

Humanities and Knowledge-based Economy

Pointing the role and importance of humanities and content production fields in the knowledge-based economy, Sattari expressed: the scope and influence of the humanities is not summarized in book writing, and we must abandon the mere consumption of the humanities and cultural products of non-member countries by supporting innovations in this important and strategic field. Knowledge-based companies are at the forefront of the battlefield of alien cultural products and content, and we must fully and responsibly support the creation of creative businesses that lead to the creation of content or products to win the cultural and economic offensive.

Sattari considered the sales rate of 90 billion Tomans of more than 4700 knowledge-based companies one of the achievements of the ecosystem in the country.

Sattari also pointed out the discourse on venture capitals and development of innovation regions.

Universities and Innovation

Pointing out the flourishing of the seedling of innovation in the land of universities, Sattari added: Sharif Innovation Region is an efficient and successful example of these regions. Currently, the region encompasses 500 companies and 3200 graduated and creative human resources. In addition, there are five government research centers, one innovation hub, five innovation centers, seven accelerators, and five technology towers working in this innovation region.

Sattari also mentioned the establishment of innovation factories in the capital and other cities, recalling them as a new model for business development.

Sattari talked about the increase in the number of internationally registered patents, affirming: the Vice-Presidency support international patent registration (90% support), and great phenomena have occurred in this area.

He also explained about the integrated unit of laboratory services with the help of the strategic technologies laboratory network, considering it another step toward scientific development. In this context, he added: we have broken the borders of the laboratory field, in a way that more than 38 university professors, doctoral students, members of the National Elite Foundation, and scientific elites, have used the 12,000 discounted and unrestricted laboratory equipment’s provided by the Strategic Technologies Laboratory Network.

Sattari regarded startups in the knowledge-based economy thinking as the provider of human resources for the innovation ecosystem.

The Evolution of the Ecosystem of Biotech and Biotechnology

Pointing out that the ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in the pharmaceutical field has reached maturity, adding: knowledge-based companies working in this field have had billions of tomans of income and have attracted and maintained talented people in the country.

He continued: by 2025, more than 10,000 startups and more than 2,000 graduates from the world"s top universities are projected to have the vision of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Pointing out the growing position of the ecosystem, Sattari continued: based on the components presented in the Global Innovation Indicators Report, we have a great place to move towards creating an eco-innovation, so we have jumped from 121 to 61; Moving forward.

The president of the national elites foundation expressed that the foundation has been laid for return of elites to the country, adding: in this way, the transfer of experience and knowledge of top talents and elites was facilitated.

During the meeting, a members of the academy of sciences shared their views on interaction with the Vice-Presidency to support the knowledge-based ecosystem of the country.