The high-tech products of 40 knowledge-based and innovative companies in the fields of electricity and electronics, medicine, advanced materials, ICT, biotechnology, agriculture and other fields of technology were put on display in the Iran House of Innovation and Technology Exports.

The House has been established in Damascus Free Zone in an area of 620 square metres with the aim of facilitating the export of Iranian high-tech products and innovative achievements to Syria. The centre has been jointly funded by the private sector and the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice-President Sattari said the House will make it easier for Iranian knowledge-based companies to export their products to the Arab country.

“We will try to share with Syria the high-tech achievements of Iranian knowledge-based companies,” he added.

The knowledge-based companies whose products may attract customers in Syria can promote and commercialize their products in the Arab county in cooperation with the agent working with the Iranian government.

Exclusive and shared spaces and permanent exhibition of knowledge-based products are among the services offered to companies in this house.

The companies can use the space to expand their high-tech interactions and exchanges with Syrian firms, and find customers and business partners for their products.

Market research, marketing, product sales, and product registration are among other services offered in this house.

Iran had earlier opened similar centres in China, Kenya, Armenia, and Turkey, and plans to expand its technology collaborations with other countries.

Iran-Syria Deal to Expand Sci-Tech Collaborations

In his address to the opening ceremony of the house, Sattari pointed to a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries during his trip to Damascus, and said the MoU will facilitate sci-tech collaborations.

The MoU was signed with the aim of opening a 10-million-dollar line of credit to establish a reference laboratory in Damascus.

According to the deal, the two sides agreed to establish specialized labs in different fields like biotechnology, nanotechnology, ICT, physics, math, and chemistry in Syria.

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Speaking in a meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous in Damascus, Sattari said dependence on oil revenues had overshadowed the Iranian economy for a long time.

“Now we have reached a point where knowledge-based economy is outpacing the oil-dependent economy with the prosperity of technology and innovation ecosystem in Iran,” Sattari said.

He said almost 3.5 million university students are engaged in this ecosystem, a lion’s share of which are studying engineering.

The Iranian vice-president said over 10,000 start-ups are operating in Iran, gifting their high-tech products to society through their creativity and innovation.

He said there are good start-ups in the Arab world, and Tehran is prepared to establish joint technology parks with Arab countries.

“We are ready to expand our sci-tech collaborations with other countries,” he added.

Referring to Syria’s need for radiation therapy machines, Sattari said the Islamic Republic can provide Syria with these machines and other advanced equipment with a price lower than that of Western companies.

The Syrian prime minister, in turn, welcomed Sattari and his entourage and highlighted the significance of promoting scientific cooperation between the two countries.

He praised Tehran’s stance on the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and the fact that it refused to give up its rights.

“Despite the economic blockade, Iran continued its scientific progress, and this forced the US to change its position. Economic siege against capable countries is an opportunity for the prosperity of creative human resources, and that’s what happened in Iran,” he said.

He also expressed hope that Sattari’s trip to Damascus will lead to further sci-tech collaborations between the two sides.

“We are going to develop the university and high-tech infrastructure of our country with Iran’s cooperation, and establish laboratory and research centres in our country,” he noted.
Arnous also thanked the Supreme Leader, government, and people of Iran for supporting Syria in its war on terrorism.

Addressing the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Sattari touched upon the developments which have taken place in Iran over the past six years.

“All of you know Iran for its huge oil and [natural] gas reserves. We have the largest hydrocarbon resources in the world. But what has happened in the past few years is the emergence of expert manpower potential and [the emergence of] a new economy alongside the traditional oil-and-gas-driven economy,” he told the gathering, which brought together some 40 Iranian and Syrian technological bodies.

“Today, more than 40 knowledge-based companies are present in this conference, which is only a small part of the events that have happened in the domain of technology in Iran,” he explained.

“Today, Iran has the largest startups in the region in the domains of communications and information technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, aerospace, stem cells and other modern technologies,” Sattari added.

Future of Iran’s Economy Hinges on Youth’s Potential

Sattari, who is also the head of the Iranian Elites’ Foundation, said the new generation of knowledge-based, technological and innovative companies in Iran has been developed by young and educated manpower.

“These young people and modern companies amount to the future of Iran’s economy. They serve as a bulwark against international sanctions and threats. This new generation of companies is learning how to export their products to international markets,” he said.

“Sales of products by Iranian knowledge-based firms have reached more than $12 billion.
This economy has caught up with the existing, traditional markets in Iran,” said Sattari.

“The oil, gas and petrochemical economies have seen considerable growth. I hope the meetings today will establish a proper link between the two Iranian and Syrian sides, so that technological and knowledge-based exchanges between the two countries will increase. Iran knows no limits for trade and technological exchanges with Syria,” he said.

The vice president also touched upon the opening of the Iranian Innovation and Technology Centre in Syria.

“We have established similar centres in China and Kenya, too, and tomorrow the third such centre will be inaugurated in Syria. We hope this office will help develop trade and technological exchanges between the two countries in the knowledge-based domain,” Sattari said.

Governments Duty-Bound to Link Technology Experts

Sattari added governments have a responsibility to establish a connection between university students, professors, technological companies, businessmen and industrialists, so that they can find each other in different countries and have technological and scientific exchanges with one another.

“The Science and Technology Department of the [Iranian] president’s office also seeks to develop technology diplomacy,” he said.

Sattari said diplomacy technology is, in fact, a new form of diplomacy.
“We introduced this concept because of our technological potentialities in the world, and we hope this gathering will result in good events between Iranian and Syrian technology experts. I invite all of you to come to Iran and visit Iranian knowledge-based firms and rich history,” said the vice president.

The second meeting of Iranian knowledge-based companies and Syrian technological institutions was held aimed at creating an atmosphere to present Iranian products. On the first day of their stay in Syria, representatives from Iranian knowledge-based and innovative companies took part in face-to-face meetings with Syrian technological firms in order to get familiar with the business climate in Syria. These meetings were held in cooperation with the Science and Technology Department of the Iranian president’s office and the Iranian Innovation and Development Fund.

In the meetings, Iranian and Syrian companies introduced to each other their achievements and capabilities in order to secure a market for t their exports.

The first face-to-face meeting of 40 Iranian knowledge-based, technological and innovative companies was held in July 2020 at the same time that the Syrian Reconstruction Exhibition was underway. Fifteen companies were present at the national pavilion of knowledge-based companies at the exhibit.