Strategic Support Pledged for Creative Animation Industry

During a visit to the “Vext” Innovation Center at Azadi Innovation Factory, the Secretary of the Soft Technologies and Creative Industries Development Staff, under the Vice Presidency for Scientific, Technological and Knowledge-Based Economy Affairs, emphasized a targeted, program-based approach to supporting animation projects with strategic content.

Seyed Mehdi Sharifi, the Staff’s Secretary, confirmed a strategic focus on three key areas: animation, gaming, and toys. He clarified this focus is due to the significant potential, market size, and ecosystem maturity in these sectors, which can also foster growth in other creative industries.

Sharifi stressed that financial support and facilities will be granted only to projects that align with specific indices defined by expert panels and contribute to the 2025 strategic goals for impactful content creation. “Projects must pass a content and strategic filter managed by the Staff’s animation desk before receiving support,” he added.

He emphasized that the Staff will not support “greenhouse” projects disconnected from real societal challenges. Instead, programs must have a clear content strategy aimed at cultural development, changing attitudes, or improving lifestyles. “We support projects that can turn a passive audience into an ‘audience-customer’—one who is culturally enriched and also contributes to the economic model,” Sharifi explained, highlighting the need for sustainable business models.

The Vext Innovation Center, an accelerator at Azadi Innovation Factory (a branch of the Iran International Innovation District), is a major content hub in the country. It supports teams and startups across the animation, advertising, and multimedia value chain by providing infrastructure, mentorship, and financial backing, thereby strengthening the nation’s creative economy ecosystem.