35th International Association of Science Parks Conference Takes Place in Isfahan
The 35th IASP conference took place on September 3, 2018 at Abbasi Hotel, Isfahan. Present at the conference were the Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mansour Gholami, the Presidential Deputy for Science and Technology Sourena Sattari, and chairmen of science and technology parks from Iran and over 50 other countries.
YSTP Public Relations—The Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mansour Gholami attributed the participation of modern science in the country’s national development to the efforts made in only two decades.
“Fortunately,” said Gholami, “these efforts have yielded significant achievements in a very little time.”
He added, “Throughout the country, there are 43 active science and technology parks, one the largest and oldest of which is the Isfahan Science and Technology Town, which will be visited and assessed by the visitors.”
The Minister of Science pointed out that the science and technology parks of the country are suitable places for knowledge-based companies and said, “A total of 5000 knowledge-based companies have registered with these parks and have created 42000 job opportunities in direct cooperation with universities, under the supervision of the parks, and have therefore managed to pave the road for scientific industries and figures to hopefully realize a promising future.”
Gholami remarked the registration of 370 trademarks since last year as “scientific achievements” of the industry and said, “Among our future programs for the country are efforts to establish entrepreneurial universities and further support relevant scientific projects.”
He also referred to the cooperation of universities and science and technology parks with development centers and these scientific communities as “a stimulant for economic and social development in Iran” and added, “Our movement towards a knowledge-based economy is a result of this very development.”
Gholami later said, “I hope that continued international scientific relations and cooperation in utilizing science and technology will benefit our future generations.”
Later, building on the fact that Iran is the world’s largest hydrocarbon reserve, the Presidential Deputy for Science and Technology Sourena Sattari introduced the new investment policies as “care for a knowledge-based economy”, announcing the country’s prospect to be inclusion among the world’s top economic powers.
He also noted that environmental and ecosystemic conditions affect quality improvement at science and technology parks and said, “We are trying to improve how science and technology parks are viewed.”
Joseph P. K., IASP chairman, discussed the needs of science and technology parks at the beginning of the conference and announced the mission of the association as “improving life quality throughout the international community”. He then thanked the Iranian executive committee of the conference.
It should also be noted that after the inaugural, speakers introduced their scientific ideas at the conference, while representatives from science and technology parks of various cities presented information on their parks to visitors of the fair held simultaneously with the conference.
The 35th IASP conference was held September 3-5, 2018 at Abbasi Hotel, Isfahan.
