Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs, stated during the meeting of knowledge-based economy and production leap of East Azerbaijan Province: all of our problems will be eliminated with knowledge work force. Meanwhile, universities play an important role. The university must consider itself responsible for change and seek to bring about fundamental change in society.

The president of the national elites foundation continued: knowledge-based economy is an endogenous concept and has the ability to solve the problems of the country. We believe that problems can be solved with knowledge, but this knowledge must also be created in the heart of an ecosystem.

According to Sattari, the university is responsible for solving the community’s problems. Universities must provide training that their graduates can use to create jobs and change in society.

Sattari added: a university that is managed by government money will be effective. Our universities must be in close contact with community and learn people’s problems and needs, which will lead to added value and will be to the benefit of society and university.

The president of the headquarters for the culture knowledge-based economy pointed out the activities of knowledge-based companies in stock exchange market, stating: currently, 41 knowledge-based companies are active in stock exchange. The economic value of knowledge-based activities last year was about 130 thousand billion tomans.

Sattari also expressed: the innovation and technology ecosystem forms the knowledge-based economy, and only a part of it is related to money and its most important basis is human thinking.

Evolution in the Knowledge-based Economy

The vice president for science and technology affairs asserted: we need new thinking to transform the knowledge-based economy. This helps young people to engage in activity, innovation and entrepreneurship in the right environment.

The president of the national elites foundation continued: we should not let the shortages force the indigenous youth of the provinces to migrate to big cities and other countries. With a correct understanding of the current situation, we must provide the necessary ground for preserving the youth and the owners of ideas in the region.

He continued: the main capital of the country is the young and capable manpower that can be effective in the country with its thinking and knowledge. We also have a duty to provide space for their activities.

The vice president for science and technology affairs continued: East Azerbaijan province has a high potential and an ecosystem should be formed to solve its problems with the help of provincial capacities.

The president of the biotechnology development headquarters pointed out the proper discourse in the field of technology adding: cultural development is the most important need for scientific and technological development of any region.

Supporting the Provision of Infrastructures
Sattari also marked: the presence of more than five thousand faculty members and the education of more than 107 thousand students in this province is a very high capacity that must enter the economy. However, the science and technology park of the province needs improvement, and the Vice-Presidency is prepared to supply the park’s infrastructures.

The vice president for science and technology affairs added: the science and technology park is an important part of the knowledge-based economy in the province. The problems and issues of the park should be solved and the park branches in the cities should be strengthened, and with all the restrictions we have this year, a suitable budget will be considered for the provincial park.

Sattari continued: one of the big problems of East Azerbaijan is the lack of a research and technology fund in the province, which should be set up and support the youth.

A report by the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs