Iran Tech Parks Told to Shed 'Purely Governmental' Role for Growth

The head of Isfahan Science & Technology Town has urged Iran's science and technology parks to redefine their role within the innovation ecosystem, warning that a purely governmental approach will slow their growth. Ehsan Yazdian made the remarks at the 5th empowerment course for tech park managers, held at Pardis Technology Park (PTP).

Addressing park managers, Yazdian posed four strategic questions to frame his management approach. He noted that while the number of university-affiliated tech companies has grown significantly in recent years, their financial turnover and economic impact appear to have reached a near-saturation point. He attributed this, in part, to a lack of proper engineering in defining the roles of various actors within the technology ecosystem.

Yazdian emphasized that parks must clarify their position among other key players, including the Vice Presidency for Science, universities, the stock exchange, financial institutions, and private brokers. "A park manager must clarify from the outset which governance layers to retain and which tasks to delegate to brokers and the private sector," he stated. "Even in areas like tax consultancy, capital attraction, and mentoring, the private sector's capacity can be utilized."

Highlighting the importance of establishing professional brokers in the provinces, he suggested that if a province lacks capable brokers, the park should play a role in their formation. "Technology development is not merely about administering a physical site; it is a governance mission for managing and developing technology at the provincial level," he added.

Comparing the atmosphere of public universities with that of technology parks, Yazdian noted that the sense of hope and dynamism in parks largely stems from the presence and active role of the private sector. "If a park maintains a purely governmental outlook, it will become a small organization with limited growth," he warned.

He also pointed to legal capacities, such as Articles 11 and 13 of the Knowledge-Based Production Law, urging parks to properly identify large industries and present their capabilities professionally and maturely. "Large industries, in the country's tough economic situation, need sustainable and respectful cooperation, not a view that sees them merely as a source of funding."

Yazdian praised Pardis Technology Park's experience in undertaking national missions, such as developing the Techmart, acceleration centers, and national technology events, calling it a successful model. "Parks can take on national governance roles beyond managing their own premises—experiences that benefit the entire country's technology ecosystem," he concluded.

He invited collaborative dialogue among course participants, stressing that the future management of parks requires network thinking, activation of the private sector at various levels, and precise definition of the roles of all technology ecosystem actors.