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VP Sattari Addresses China High-Tech Forum 2019

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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VP Sattari Addresses China High-Tech Forum 2019

What follows is the full text of his speech:

Your Excellencies, dizstinguished guests, ladies, and gentleman

Good evening

First and foremost, I would like to express my pleasure for being here and I hope holding such events leads to deepen trade and technology cooperation and bonds between the countries.

I would like to take the opportunity of my presence here in this elite gathering to encourage the countries, more than before, to develop friendly cooperation in high-tech trade.

As you already know, the open exchange of advanced products and technologies at the international level has provided a vital opportunity to meet the challenges facing societies.

Therefore, the cooperation of countries in the development and dissemination of technological innovations is the motivation for the increasing progress of the nations. In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always tried to use innovation as a tool to support the transition of societies to prosperity and development with an open view to its technological achievements. After many years of efforts by our researchers and scientists and reaching a high position in terms of scientific and technological achievements, on behalf of my country, I would like to express our determination to expand our strategic cooperation in the field of the promotion of innovation, in order to achieve mutual benefits.

I believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s experience in utilizing science and technology to meet the country’s needs in facing unfair international restrictions has provided valuable lessons for various countries. Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to share my country’s experience of transition from a natural resource-based and non-reliant on domestic capabilities economy to an economy with a significant share of knowledge-based products. Hoping that the path of development of science, technology and innovation in Iran can provide different countries with an informative experience.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen;

Iran has always been well-known in public opinion as a rich country in terms of natural and cultural heritage. This fact, on the one hand, provides us with vast opportunities for the country’s development, and on the other hand, it highlights the danger of dependence on the country’s past assets and being contented to irresponsible exploitation of natural resources. For many years we have been faced with this question that at which side of this dual issue we should stay: creating wealth from the ending natural resources and living with past reserves or creating new circles to create value and build the future.

Here today, I can proudly say that we chose the second path. Decades of reliance on domestic capabilities has made it possible for our country to take a big step in changing the picture of its previous economy into a knowledge-based economy, thanks to the tremendous achievements in aerospace, ICT, nanotechnology, biotechnology, stem cells, cognitive science, renewable energies and pharmaceutical and medical technologies.

In the recent past, cheap and easy money obtained from the sale of raw materials had become a mean of inefficiency and waste of the country’s capacities.

The government was getting bigger and bigger with the oil money, and it dampened the motivations for risk-taking as well as creation of added value for universities and domestic industries who accessed those cheap funds that was allocated to them. The outcome of that process could jeopardize the country’s future and frustrate the country’s young and creative forces. Therefore, it seemed that serious changes were needed to be made.

A public call to avoid what is called resource curse, has created a new determination in the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure the interests of the society: We need to build a creative future through innovation. Since the mid-1990s, innovation has become one of the most important policymaking keywords in Iran.

Since then, changes have been made at the highest levels of the country’s policymaking to integrate the country’s capacities for the development of scientific and technological innovation. High-level policy-making bodies such as the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, the Supreme Council for Science, Research and Technology, the Innovation and Prosperity Fund, and the Strategic and Emerging Technology Councils have been established in this regard. At the same time, the orientation of national policies in national policy documents was adjusted towards scientific and technological development besides supportive laws and regulations that were ratified and adopted to promote technology penetration in the industry. The country’s Comprehensive Scientific Road Map and the supporting knowledge-based firms’ law are the most important examples that have led to the formation of a major innovation movement in universities and domestic industries.

In line with these changes, the formation of infrastructures such as business incubators, accelerators, science and technology parks, science and technology special zones, research and technology funds and venture capital funds, eliminates the institutional gaps in Iran’s National Innovation System to a great extent.

These changes, which can be described as steps to strengthen Iran’s National Innovation System, have been established by three main logics: (1) prioritizing strategic technologies based on the country’s upstream policies and sustainable development goals; (2) providing simultaneous support for startup businesses to defuse innovation and conventional industries to create innovative outputs, and finally (3) transition from a government-related innovation system to an innovation ecosystem

These policies have been already presenting a new image of the Iranian economy; an economy with the government facilitation and smart financial partnership besides significant share of VC finance provided by private sector. Now, in this picture, there is an acceptable connection between academic researches on the one hand and the needs and demands of the society and industry on the other. Domestic industries are more motivated to enter higher value chains, and young entrepreneurs are showing more opportunities to establish their startup businesses.

Distinguished guests,

I would like to emphasize that my country is now in the middle of a path that, thanks to the efforts of our scientists, entrepreneurs and government support, has created a huge social capital to support innovation policy. As a result of the two decades of scientific development efforts, Iran is ranked 16th in the world in scientific publications, increased by 18 places from 2005. After this successful transition, based on the domestic demands, we have been able to have the most engineering graduates in the world, and as a result of this move, we have promoted to have an export share of high-tech and medium-high tech exports with a significant leap of 1.5 billion $ in 2005 to $ 12 billion in 2014.

In terms of scientific achievements, the Islamic Republic of Iran has more than 229,000 Ph.D. students and a 1.85% share in science production worldwide. For example, in the field of nanotechnology, Iran is in the fourth place after the leading countries of the United States, China and India.

I should point out that these brilliant statistics have all achieved thanks to the country’s development of science, technology and innovation infrastructures. Iran has more than 2,390 universities around the country with approximately 4.8 million students. There are 44 science and technology parks in different cities with over than 4,500 companies based there.

In terms of infrastructure of financial support for innovation, only Innovation and Prosperity Fund with total capital of $ 395 million has supported about 5,400 innovative projects, so far.

I should emphasize here that Iran’s policy transition towards a knowledge-based economy has also had remarkable results in terms of innovation outputs. Since the ratification and adoption of the supporting knowledge-based firms’ law in 2010, about 4,700 companies have been entitled as knowledge based companies according to their technological capabilities. These companies generated $ 11 billion of the total annual value of the Iranian economy in this short time and generating more than 140,000 direct jobs.

Let me just mention a few examples of these technology companies. CinnaGen, as a biotech-based pharmaceutical company, is the largest exporter of bio-pharmaceuticals in the region. Also, as an example of Iran’s remarkable advances in stem cell technology, Kish Tissue Regeneration Corporation is one of the world’s leading companies in the field of bio-implants production. Tuga is a leading company in the design and production of turbines and PR Saadat is one of the largest Iranian knowledge-based companies that has commercialized numerous technology-based medical products. Also, Snapp is Iran’s first unicorn start-up in urban transportation with more than half a million drivers and is considered as the seventh largest startup of its kind in the world.

Dear friends,

It may be better to present more detailed information about what I have stated here so far as the experience of two decades of Iran’s attempts to transition from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. This is Iran’s dramatic breakthrough in the Global Innovation Index over five years. According to the latest Global Innovation Index report, Iran’s ranking of innovation in 2019 among the countries of the world has been improved by 60 places. The Islamic Republic of Iran has, in almost all respects, reflected the innovation performance at the national level, with a successful transition to create a dynamic innovation ecosystem.

I believe that this great move could not have been possible but with the great determination to cut off dependency on easy resources. At the same time, I emphasize that the current point is not the end of our path. We are now placed in the midst of this way where difficult challenges are ahead. The first and most important challenge is the stabilization of the importance of science, technology and innovation policy and its capability to coordinate across policy sectors and levels.

For a brief review of Iran’s achievements in various fields of science and technology, check the book “Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review – 2019”

Another challenge is to improve research productivity via funding researches with a competitive rationale based on the performance of research institutes. At the same time, it is a challenging goal to delegate research and development activities from the public sector to the private sector, which in turn enhances research achievements. In addition, unlimited access to international capital resources to finance innovative projects requires a serious international determination that is difficult to achieve. Finally, the dissemination of innovation to the various economic sectors that caused them to benefit from the results of the knowledge-based economy, is a serious policy challenge.

Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The suggestion I offer here in light of the experience of innovation policy in the Islamic Republic of Iran to address these challenges is to deepen international cooperation in order to open access to innovation blessings for all societies. Exchange of scientists, entrepreneurs and technology based on the mutual benefits of the nations, collaboration on major industrial projects based on national priorities, collaboration on the development of creative and startup solutions for different societies’ problems, sharing policy experiences on different innovation ecosystems through policy dialogue and joint cross financing for innovative projects at international level are different types of collaborative efforts that can be effective in fostering the nation’s innovation capacity.

It should be emphasized here that, given the will of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to expand strategic cooperation with various governments in the field of innovation dissemination, there is now a good opportunity to share scientific, technological, human force, financial and market capacities in Iran. I do believe that realization of cooperation in this area will be possible through serious determination and goodwill of the partner governments.

In the end, I thank you so much for your kind attention, and I hope that holding this event will usher in a friendly and long-term relations between the countries in the field of science, technology and innovation.

Rouhani Hails Iranian People for Standing Up to US Pressure

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Hassan Rouhani - President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Hassan Rouhani said if Iranian people had retreated, the country would not have been able to pull off any success.

“God forbid, [if you had retreated] we would have had to surrender to bullying enemies; but, you put up resistance,” said the president at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“Today, we have reached a point where the whole world is contacting us and telling us to settle current issues and problems together,” he said.

The president said Iran has always been ready to help solve problems, and this time, too, will “help solve the problem that you created.”

Tensions have been running high between Iran and the United States since last year, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the multilateral nuclear deal and unleashed the “toughest ever” sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

In response to the US campaign of “maximum pressure”, Tehran has so far rowed back on its nuclear commitments four times in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA but stressed that its retaliatory measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the mutual trade from the US sanctions.

Twitter User Finds Smart Way to Raise Funds for Cancer Kids

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Twitter User Finds Smart Way to Raise Funds for Cancer Kids

Here is what the user wrote on his Twitter page on November 11, 2019:

“Hello friends. It’s my birthday today, and I don’t remember having received a present from anybody, so far. As I don’t want this to become an irritating memory for me, I want you to deposit Rls. 10,000 [some 9 cents] at my account with the following bank card number.

N.B.

  1. Rls. 10,000 is not a large sum of money, but it would make me happy.
  2. #Retweet fellow countrymen :)”

And a debit card number appeared at the end of the message.

The message received mixed reactions from users. The majority of Twitter users were suspicious of what he or she was doing and passed different judgements.

Some users described the message as a ploy to gain access to citizens’ bank account data. Some called that person a swindler.

However, the story took a different turn when some users believed him/her and paid the said amount as a birthday gift. Then it transpired that the debit card number the user had mentioned belonged to the Iranian Mahak Society to Support Children with Cancer.

Afterwards, the number of people depositing money increased and some even paid amounts more than Rls. 10,000. From a certain point on, the type of comments changed and the number of such comments increased:

* I’m sorry that I jumped to conclusions. I would have probably not given any money to you as a gift if I hadn’t read the comments. I apologize for my hasty mind. Please forgive me. Many congratulations on your birthday. I hope to see you one day when I will give you a beautiful gift.

* No tweet had ever surprised me as yours did. In this timeline when many are after worthless issues, this birthday tweet was one of the most beautiful signs that love of humanity is still alive.

* First, I really thought it was your own bank card number. I just decided to deposit the money as fun when I suddenly realized that it was in the name of MAHAK. Bravo!

So far, nearly 5,000 Twitter users have liked this tweet, more than a thousand have retweeted it, and some 700 have replied to the post.

The Iranian Mahak Society to Support Children with Cancer is a charity NGO which began its work in 1991 with the aim of helping under-16 children suffering from cancer and their families.

Over its 28 years of activity, the non-profit organization has secured tremendous achievements in charity, treatment and research domains by relying on the contributions of altruistic people and the cooperation of officials. Mahak has now turned into one of the cancer treatment hubs in the Middle East.

Lut Desert Gorgeous Lake in Hottest Spot on Earth

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The newly-born lake lies in the Lut Desert some 50 kilometres from the historical town of Shahdad. The lake is hosting migratory birds, turning it into a tourist attraction, not to mention the other beauties of Lut.

These days coincide with the tourist season in the Lut Desert. The hottest spot on earth where temperatures reach up to 72 degrees centigrade draws the attention of every visitor. It is where the world’s highest sand dunes are located along with a salt-water river and a star-lit sky at night, making it all the more mesmerising.

This part of a desert where only a salt-water river was once found has now become a tourist hub. Travel agencies in Kerman are now organizing tours of the Lut Desert named “The Young Lake Fun Tour.”

People have named the lake “young” as they see the creation of a lake in the middle of a desert as a miracle. The lake has not dried up despite the summer heat of Lut Desert, and the start of the raining season has created the possibility of the lake becoming larger.

What created the lake in Lut Desert was the local salt-water river bursting its banks. The point is that the current of water in this river never stops.

The lake has a large reservoir with high salt levels. It is so large that even waves are created there and that it has attracted migratory birds to the desert. The lake covers a considerable area of land.

Lut Desert lake is one of the most eye-catching phenomena of the contemporary era for Kerman province as well as for the Iranian and international tourism industries. It should be introduced to tourists across the globe. The photos and videos published of this natural phenomenon catches the eye of every viewer.

UN Urges US to Comply with ICJ Ruling on Iran Sanctions

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iranian children suffering from a rare skin condition known as EB are losing their lives as US economic sanctions hamper the flow of vital medical products into Iran.

“We encourage all UN member states to follow the decisions of the International Court of Justice,” Farhan Haq said according to Iran Press.

Children with Epidermolysis bullosa or EB, often known as butterfly children, because their skin is as fragile as the wings of a butterfly, need special care. Even mild frictions or bumps cause severe blistering of the skin which is very painful.

They often have difficulty with their daily activities, such as walking, eating and even breathing, but without proper protective bandages, their agony would be heartbreaking.

The head of the NGO that helps such patients, Hamid Reza Hashemi-Golpayegani, has said that at least 15 Iranian children with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) have died since the US launched its new sanctions on Iran in August.

“That is because Swedish medical companies which provided protective bandages for such patients have halted supplies due to the restrictions,” he said.

According to Hashemi, about 700 children with Epidermolysis bullosa or EB have been identified in Iran.

Since the reimposition of sanctions, Swedish medical products firm Molnlycke Health Care has stopped delivering Mepilex dressings which are trusted around the world to treat a wide range of chronic and acute wounds, including in EB patients, Iranian media reports say.

EU Must Brace for Deluge of Narcotics If It Fails to Aid Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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EU Must Brace for Deluge of Narcotics If It Fails to Aid Iran
EU Must Brace for Deluge of Narcotics If It Fails to Aid Iran

Brigadier General Mohammad Masoud Zahedian says all other countries should play their part in the fight against narcotics, helping Iran which lies on a major drug route between Afghanistan, Europe and the Persian Gulf states and pays a heavy price fighting drug trafficking.

Speaking on the sidelines of a display of illicit drugs found in Tehran, he said the Islamic Republic’s capacity is limited, and there is an inflow on drug production, while the rate of drug production in Afghanistan is increasing day by day.

185 tonnes of narcotics production in 2001 in Afghanistan has now reached over 10,000 tonnes. Iran’s facilities are not proportionate with this volume, and sometimes the country may not be able to counter well with this inflow, added Zahedian.

“We urge European countries to support Iran’s efforts to combat narcotics.”

Iran is in the forefront of the fight against drug trafficking and thousands of Iranian forces have so far been martyred to protect the world from the danger of drugs.

Afghan and western officials blame Washington and NATO, saying that allies have overlooked the drug problem since invading the country about 18 years ago.

Iran Says Dialogue Only Way to Resolve Regional Crises

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Appoints Female Ambassador to Denmark

Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said on Wednesday the Islamic Republic of Iran will do whatever it can to set the stage for talks between countries in the region.

He made the remarks in response to reporters who had asked him about recent comments by a United Arab Emirates official saying the country wouldn’t like to intensify tensions and wants to see problems settled based on talks and without any outbreak of a war in the region.

“The idea of the formation of a forum for regional dialogue and [the conclusion of] the non-aggression treaty as well as the unveiling of the Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE) initiative at the 74th meeting of the UN General Assembly by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s president are within the same framework,” he noted.

He said the HOPE initiative has been presented to heads of state of Iraq and countries to the south of the Persian Gulf.

“This plan emphasizes our common security with our neighbours based on compliance with common principles, including not threatening to use force, settling the crises peacefully, respecting the sovereignty of countries and not interfering in the internal affairs of countries as well as nations’ right to self-determination,” the spokesman added.

Iran believes if this process is set in motion, he added, the common interests of all regional countries will be ensured and their differences of opinion respected.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran hopes the regional countries will embrace the HOPE initiative and begin comprehensive regional talks in a bid to eradicate the root causes of divisions in the region and take practical, serious and effective steps toward resolving regional crises,” he noted.

Researchers Cure Skin Conditions with Patient’s Own Stem Cells

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Researchers Cure Skin Conditions with Patient’s Own Stem Cells

They came to that conclusion after reviewing the therapeutic as well as side effects of using and individual’s own fibroblasts on curing skin conditions.

One of society’s demands from the health sector is to treat their skin diseases and make it young again. Recent surveys show the transplant of an individual’s own fibroblast cells can make skin young again.

In order to ensure that using these cells will be effective and safe in the long run, Iranian researchers launched a clinical study in phase two of their research. In that survey, 57 people with wrinkles or acne marks with a certain degree of skin damage received, in three phases, fibroblast cells taken from their own bodies. The cells were injected into the location of the skin damage at 4-to-6-week intervals.

The effectiveness and side effects of the treatment were examined two, six, 12 and 24 months after the last injection.

The results of the survey published in the international Cell Journal showed that using this method improved skin creases and acne marks by at least two grades. Six months after the last injection, 90.1 percent of wrinkles and 86.1 percent of acne marks were improved by at least one degree.

For a brief review of Iran’s achievements in various fields of science and technology, check the book “Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review – 2019”

Also, at least 56.1 percent of creases and 63.9 percent of acne marks were improved by two degrees.

The improvements remained unchanged until the end of the 24-month period, and no side effect was observed during the research period.

The results of the survey suggested that using an individual’s own fibroblasts is effective in making their skin young again and curing their skin damage and has no specific side effects in the long run.

Iranian Sci-Tech Delegation Visits China Suzhou Industrial Park

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iranian Sci-Tech Delegation Visits China Suzhou Industrial Park
Suzhou Industrial Park

The delegation also visited the Iranian export base and the knowledge-based companies located in the park. Iran has a pavilion where the products of knowledge-based companies are presented.

The Islamic Republic has also released a call for companies that would like to present their product at the pavilion. This pavilion does marketing and finds business partners for the tech companies.

In 2015, the Iran-China Nano Centre was set up in Suzhou. It is a centre that pursues the development of nanotechnology partnerships between the two countries and eventually creates the infrastructure needed to establish Iranian technology companies in the Nanopolis area of the Suzhou Industrial Park.

Information technology, stem cells, industrial machinery and equipment, advanced materials, and health are the fields of activity of knowledge-based companies headed to China.

A delegation of knowledge-based and technology firms headed by Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology Sorna Sattari has travelled to China. Managers of the knowledge-based, Technology and Creative Companies accompany him in this visit. The purpose of this trip is to help develop Iran’s knowledge, technology and creative companies’ exports to China and to create a technology-based exchange.

Suzhou Industrial Park, abbreviated as SIP, is a county-level administrative area located in Suzhou region. Known as the heaven of researchers and artists, the park hosted Iranian knowledge-based companies’ representatives.

17 years ago the city was created in collaboration with Singaporeans. This technology-driven city is comprised of three main districts including Nanopolis and the ICT sectors.

The technology city has a respected stance in the country’s scientific and research community. The technological achievements and products made in the park accelerate the advancement of the country. Companies based in these areas offer advanced and innovative services that getting familiarised with them can be a step for Iranian knowledge-based companies to expand their operations.

The companies located in the park are always striving to foster innovation, competitiveness and progress.

Beijing Welcomes Technological Collaboration with Tehran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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China Welcomes Technological Collaboration with Iran

Vice-President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari arrived in China on Tuesday at the head of a delegation upon an official invitation by the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology. Sattari was greeted by the mayor of Shenzhen on the first day of his trip to the city which is a scientific hub of the country.

Referring to the existing scientific and technological capacities of the city, Chen Rugui said Shenzhen has a prominent position in terms of export volume, especially in the field of engineering services.

Shenzhen is an innovation-based city comprised of private companies.

Talking about the establishment of large companies such as Huawei in Shenzhen, Chen Rugui said the cost of research and development in existing industries is equal to 4.5 percent of the city’s gross domestic product, which is a high number in comparison with international figures.

“Shenzhen is known as the Green City because it has the lowest energy and water consumption, and car and electric bus use is a feature of the city.”

He further praised Iran’s resistance to the sanctions, saying that the Chinese president had a trip to Iran in 2016 that strengthened cooperation in many areas between the two countries.

“China, like Iran, is struggling with sanctions, and we have mobilised all our political, economic, and technological capabilities to defeat them.”

Biotech, Fintech, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence are rapidly developing in China. The “China Advanced Technology Fair” will showcase the achievements of Chinese companies in these areas. We also welcome any cooperation in various fields of science with Iran, he underlined.

In turn, Sorena Sattari said that Shenzhen is an innovative and intelligent city, adding that “In Iran, we are also pursuing innovation and are on the path, and with the help of young and creative people in our country, the growth of innovation is expanding every day.”

Iran Has Become Innovative Country Today

The Iranian vice president for science and technology went on to say that today Iran has turned into an innovative country, expressing that of the 80 million population of Iran, 33 million are young people aged between 20 to 40 who are at the forefront of change and innovation.

“Five million students are another part of our capacity in this field. Moreover, 90% of Iranians are internet users. Thus, we can claim that half of the Internet users in the Middle East are Iranian, and this has led to the Persian language becoming the ninth language on the Internet.”

Sanctions Boost Domestic Production Capacity

Referring to the state of nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology in the country, the head of Iran’s National Elite Foundation said the sanctions have strengthened the domestic production capacity in Iran so that now 98% of medicines are manufactured domestically. Additionally, the largest Mideast startups in some areas are the Iranian ones.

Sattari referred to the accompaniment of the knowledge-based companies in the visit, saying that these knowledge-based companies are attending two business and technology meetings. The first meeting was held in Shanghai on November 11, and on 13th the second meeting will be held in Shenzhen to provide an opportunity to find business partners and investors.

He said that scientific relations between countries are independent from politics while technology cooperation depends on the interaction of individuals and corporate executives with each other and is a matter beyond the relations between countries. Sattari further stressed that the governments only need to help build and strengthen the infrastructure.

“Shenzhen” Can Be Sister City of Some Iranian cities

Sattari also said that Shenzhen can be the twin city of some Iranian cities. China’s technological development is a model for us. Since Iran is pursuing an ecosystem of innovation and technology to have an oil-free economy.

“Soon, oil and steel companies will be sidelined by tech companies and they will make a significant contribution to the economy.”

According to the vice president for science and technology, during this visit Iran seeks to strengthen the relationship and cooperation between technology companies and to define joint science and technology projects.

In the end, Sattari invited the mayor of Shenzhen to visit Iran’s scientific and technological capacities.

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