An Iranian vice presidency aiming to wean Iran’s economy off oil

The Iranian Vice Presidency for Science and Technology is currently offering support to some 8,600 knowledge-based and creative firms, under a strategic vision to wean Iran’s economy off oil.

Since its inception in 2006, the Vice Presidency has strived to create the ecosystem for knowledge-based and creative companies to thrive in, and increasingly more such companies have come under its sponsorship in recent years.
Implementing a sponsorship plan for Iranian firms, the Vice Presidency has surveyed a total of 32,369 firms. Some 7,064 of them have met the criteria for sponsorship and have been receiving assistance since then. That in turn has led to the creation of 350,000 jobs and the sale of products worth 300,000 billion tomans.
Notably, the Vice Presidency has been able to induce reverse brain drain and facilitate the return to Iran of 2,700 Iranian elites.

A major goal has been to develop and commercialize strategic technologies by implementing large-scale technological and innovation plans. More than 28 events have been successfully held in the field of the development of strategic and high-priority technologies so far.
Numerous joint projects have been undertaken with the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), itself an avant-garde institution that is involved in developing cutting-edge science and technology.
The Vice Presidency for Science and Technology has been funding advanced research projects as well as student researches at the post-doctoral level, granting research scholarships, among other activities.
Most recently, the Vice Presidency has been executing a plan to induce a production leap in the knowledge-based and creative sector.
Another program has led to the opening of 65 Houses of Creativity and Innovation Centers in Iranian provinces.