First Vice President Highlights Importance of Iran International Innovation District in Joint Meeting of Pardis Technology Park and Pardis Health Technology Park Board of Trustees

In the 14th meeting of the joint board of trustees of Pardis Technology Park and Pardis Health Technology Park, the First Vice President emphasized that the Iran International Innovation District is a source of pride for the system and has played a key role in advancing the country’s goals in achieving advanced and high-tech technologies. He stressed that elevating the status of Pardis Technology Park to the Iran International Innovation District reflects the system’s confidence in the services, processes, and capacities of this entity, and this commitment and heavy responsibility must continue.

Dr. Mohammad Reza Aref, during the 14th meeting of the Joint Board of Trustees of the Pardis Technology Park and the Pardis Health Technology Park, highlighted that the Pardis Technology Park has played a pivotal role in advancing the country’s access to advanced technologies over the past 20 years. He referenced the establishment of the Pardis Technology Park during the eighth government, stating that the strategy at that time was to manage the park in a non-governmental manner. However, due to the incomplete development of the private sector to support the government’s strategies, the park transitioned to governmental or semi-governmental management.
Expressing gratitude to those involved in the park over the past two decades, Dr. Aref noted that the Pardis Technology Park was created to achieve the priorities outlined in the science and technology vision document, particularly in high-tech sectors, and has made significant strides toward advanced technologies and innovation.
The Vice President emphasized that the region’s 300 million population requires the technological advancements of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and there have been positive interactions with this region. He mentioned that the Free Trade Agreement with Eurasia has been approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly and will be announced by the end of May 2025, while culturally, there are strong cultural affinities with the countries in the region.
Recalling a memory from his time as President of the University of Tehran, he noted that the welcome he received as the First Vice President was similar to that during his presidency, indicating the stature of Iranian universities and scientific institutions in the region.
Dr. Aref stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a founding member of ECO, and emphasized that at that time, the prime ministers of ECO member countries highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and expressed readiness to collaborate with Iran. This attention from these countries offers Iran a degree of security in this vital area, although he acknowledged that Iran has not fully capitalized on this opportunity.
He further stressed that developing relations with neighboring countries, the Eurasian region, and Africa are key components of Iran’s foreign policy strategy. He noted that significant steps have been taken to enhance relations with African countries during the 14th government, with Iranian companies, particularly in technical and engineering sectors, entering this region. The technology parks can lead the way in fostering scientific and technological relations with neighboring and African countries, as well as those prioritized by Iran’s foreign policy, emphasizing the importance of long-term interests rather than short-term gains to secure Iran’s position in the world.
Dr. Aref identified microelectronics as one of the country’s essential priorities, stating that in the years following the Islamic Revolution, while promoting higher education and launching graduate studies, a strategic mistake was made in the microelectronics sector, focusing solely on theoretical aspects. He stressed the need to correct the 40 years of backwardness in this field.
Additionally, Dr. Aref called on the Iran International Innovation District (iiiD) to specifically focus and expand its activities in the microelectronics sector.