Appendix C

Strategic Science and Technology Approaches of Iran (2015)

Goal: Second Place in Science and Technology in the Region (following Turkey)

• A system for monitoring, evaluating, and ranking universities and research institutes.
• At least 50 percent of academic research oriented to socio-economic needs, including activities at university research centers with linkages to industry.
• Increased number of graduate programs in applied disciplines.
• Academic boards at universities that oversee academic programs.
• Applied laboratories at universities, science and technology parks, and incubators.
• Increased government investment in research to four percent of GDP.
• Increased foreign direct investment in technology development.
• Linkages with prestigious international educational and research institutions.
• Better science and technology indicators in government planning: revenues from exports of high-tech and medium-tech goods, patents granted, and knowledge-based companies.

Priority: Technology Diffusion and Support of Knowledge-Based Companies

• Increased R&D budgets that support demand-driven research and development of private and of cooperative small and medium enterprises to commercialize knowledge in export products.
• Encouragement of private sector to set up business incubators and science and technology parks and encouragement of foreign partners to invest in R&D and finance patents.
• Government support of universities to establish knowledge-based private companies.
• Funding for individual innovators and science leaders to support commercialization of their inventions.
• Financing of patents at national and international levels and assistance with arrangement for commercial sales of new products.
• Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Information to develop infrastructure to ensure broadband internet that enables universities and research institutions to share information and data on research projects and intellectual property.
• National development fund to diversify economy while preserving part of oil and gas rents for future use and increasing income on accumulated savings.
• New product-oriented campuses of public and private universities in special economic zones.
• New product-oriented campuses of public and private universities in special economic zones.
• Establishment of industrial clusters with closer ties between industry and science and technology parks in order to develop capacity for industrial design, innovation, and procurement.

Financial Support: Innovation and Prosperity Fund

• Eight billion rials in 2015.
• Initial applications from universities to set up knowledge-based companies in special economic zones (Tehran, Esfahan, and Mashad).
• Support of small and medium enterprises through tax incentives, partial payment of commercialization costs, and payment of interest on bank loans for purchase of equipment.

• Support of private companies through business incubators, cost-free premises, and tax incentives.

Source: Koomars Ashtarian, “Iran,” UNESCO Science Report, 2015, p. 389.

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