The vice president for science and technology affairs stated: in the statement of the second step of the revolution, our Supreme Leader has had a special view toward creative youth, innovation and technology, and knowledge-based companies. This shows the significant importance of ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship.

According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, some of activists in the field of mobiles and apps gathered together this morning. This startup gathering was held on the occasion of holding the 11^th Web & Mobile Festival, hosted by Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs.

In addition to expressing condolences on the martyrdom of some of the border guards with a terrorist attack in Sistan and Baluchestan Province and condemned this abusive move by the enemies, the vice president for science and technology affairs stated: the society must realize that the valuable and less tangible gem of security is the result of sacrifices of hard-working children of the country.

Attention of the Supreme Leader and the Society to Innovative Youth, Technology, and Knowledge-based Economy

The vice president for science and technology affairs reminded the special and valuable view of the Supreme Leader to the youth, knowledge, technology, and knowledge-based economy in his latest statement entitled “the second step of the revolution”, expressing: the attention of the Supreme Leader to the youth, knowledge, technology, innovation, and knowledge-based companies in the statement is of paramount importance. This shows the high significance of these issues, and the Supreme Leader has accurately emphasized the special importance of the youth and innovation in establishing an endogenous and valuable economy since this is the way to create the future of the country.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Sattari had a recommendation for startup activists and emphasized that the ecosystem must keep its distance with the government. In this regard, he continued: the government authorities must not enter this ecosystem. All successful startups that have taken steps in the path of billions of revenues and have grown more than largest traditional businesses, have received no money from the government and their excellence is in keeping their distance from the government. The entrance of the government into this ecosystem will be destructive.

Flourishing of Ecosystem of Entrepreneurship by Culture Building

The president of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter announced the flourishing of culture for ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation and pointed out the necessity of a choice, asserting: the culture of reliance on revenues created by selling oil and raw materials will be replaced by the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Today, the society must choose between a government that suppresses innovation and the one that supports it. The nature and thinking of underground resources are repressive to innovation. Therefore, the government and bureaucratic thinking discourages the formation of an adaptable ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Each Startup, Creator of a New Innovation

The vice president for science and technology affairs considered the role-playing of the private sector in this field a fundamental pillar for development of a new ecosystem, affirming: a large part of this work is carried out by the investors of the private sector. These investors know the value of investment on creative youth based on the new culture and anticipate the position obtained by investing in the ideas of these individuals.  

Special Importance of Universities in the Development Ecosystem

Pointing out the key role of universities in guiding the youth toward innovative businesses, Sattari added: in this ecosystem, universities play a key role in the society. In addition, they correct their thinking attitude for effective presence in this space.

The vice president for science and technology affairs claimed: the startup and knowledge-based family must reach a specific level in order to transform the previous improper culture. According to this transformation, government recruitment is a horrible phenomenon, selling raw materials is eliminated, and the society solves its problems and creates added value through innovation and using creative ideas.

According to the president of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter, each new startup is a new innovation even if it fails. This is mainly due to the fact that those who enter this ecosystem are independent and can start again even after failure.

Innovation is required by the ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship. Repetitive ideas limit the scope of development of startups and knowledge-based companies. Problems faced by the community are a good start for new startups. More than 1500 technological ideas have been published in the form of books by the Vice-Presidency. A large number of these ideas are unique, and attention of startups to these ideas can lead to an innovative and successful business.

Moving toward Technological Startups

According to the vice president for science and technology affairs, the next stage is moving of startups toward advanced technologies, expressing: flourishing of startups in the field of advanced technologies, such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and stem cells, will be accelerated in the next year. A main pillar of these startups is information and communication startups. With the production of tangible and physical-technological products, these startups enter the field of synthesis of gains. This year, a good budget for this area was injected and next year will be supported by the same trend.

The president of the knowledge-based economy and culture-building technologies development headquarter appreciated the path selected by the young activists of startups and knowledge-based companies.

Sattari added: while the traditional space is broad and extended, it loses to the startups in this competition. In fact, traditional businesses must seek their success path in how to support startups instead of confrontation.

According to the vice president for science and technology affairs, it is obvious that the government is not able to solve all problems alone, and people are the major players of this field with their creative ideas. The government must create an environment where startups and knowledge-based companies could move toward solving problems by creating innovative ideas with the least concerns and barriers.

Necessity of Moving on the Innovation Circuit

Sattari also mentioned that while knowledge-based companies and startups have had a good move toward selling, there are still so much to do in the distribution area. If some basic problems are solved by startups, they will gain the trust of the society. To this end, there is a need for new and domestic innovative ideas. Service startups have an extraordinary market because the distribution and service sector has generally been dependent on oil rents. Today, the provision of low-cost, widespread, and quality startups has delivered an extraordinary opportunity for these businesses.

The vice president for science and technology affairs pointed out that the urban culture and structure of the community must be adapted to the ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation. In this respect, he marked: private growth centers and science and technology parks formed with the support of the Vice-Presidency are a new way in line with the correction of this culture. In the innovative, creative and intelligent city concepts, the entire arena of the city as a science and technology park is the field of engagement of knowledge-based companies and startups.

According to the vice president for science and technology affairs, this culture has been extended beyond the capital and has reached other cities. New concepts such as private science and technology parks, growth centers and innovation factories are among these concepts, and mayors believe that people solve problems with their innovation and creativity.

Appreciation of Winners

Winners of three sections of the 11^th Web & Mobile Festival of Iran received their awards from the vice president for science and technology affairs.

In this ceremony, Mogheiatyab App and 724 PayPal App were selected as the best apps in the past few years of ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition, “Basalam” was selected as the best business by the judges of the 11^th Web & Mobile Festival.

A few months ago, a video of students in Shirabad, Zahedan became viral, who talked about their concerns in a semi-built school that require equipment.

With the help of the 11^th Web and Mobile Festival, these students and their teacher were appreciated and met with the vice president for science and technology affairs.

The 11^th Web and Mobile Festival witnessed the development of apps with the cooperation of more than five thousand apps and websites for the first time. This year, 2500 apps and 2300 websites were present. This festival continues with various events and will finish tomorrow in the energy research center.