VP: Iran’s IT Strat-Ups Top in Region

Iranian Vice-President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari said that the growth of IT start-ups in his country is unparalleled in the whole region, highlighting that the current administration is determined to strengthen knowledge-based economy.

“Start-up activities are often in the field of nano-science, biotechnology and stem cells, and we are also progressing tremendously in the IT field,” Sattari said on Monday evening, on the sidelines of his visit to Northeastern city of Mashhad, hailing the country’s growth in start-up economy.

“Some of the works started from the beginning of the (current) administration were focused on developing knowledge-based economy, and one of the major areas of this kind of economy is cyber space,” he said.

“Our start-ups in the IT field are also the biggest ones in the region,” he noted adding, “It is a science-driven movement that strengthens the country, and needs to be further consolidated.”

In a related front, last Monday, he announced that his country ranked 16th in the world in the production of science in 2017, stressing that the country's stand will even improve further this year.

"Iran has managed to promote its world rank from 34th to the 16th in production of science in the last 10 years," Sattari said, addressing the inauguration ceremony of an exhibition of research achievements in laboratorial tools in Tehran

Yet, he foresaw that Iran's ranking would improve this year to stand the 15th.

"Our country is also growing rapidly in special fields, including biotechnology and stem cells, and is pioneering in the world in certain areas like nanotechnology by standing in the 4th place," Sattari said.

Iran is pioneering in scientific growth among the world states, a senior Iranian academic official said two weeks ago.

"Iran has had the fastest scientific growth in the world, which has been 11 times higher than the average global rate," Head of Iran's Science and Elites Committee Ahmad Faza'eli said, addressing a forum in Tehran.

He added that Iran ranks first in the region and 16th in the world in production of science.

Faza'eli also noted that Iran stands among the top 11 world states in satellite-launch technology and ranks 8th in the world in orbiting satellites.

Iran has made huge progress in different sciences and technologies in recent years.

Sattari announced earlier this month that Iran stood atop the nations of the region in the production of science and technology.

"Now, Iran ranks first in the region in science and technology," Sattari said, addressing a forum on stem cells in Tehran.

He also referred to Iran's huge progress in the field of stem cells, and said that the country had been able to take over Turkey and Israel in this field.

Sattari underscored that Iran's progress in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine had opened a door to the development of knowledge-based economy.

source: FARS News Agency