“Moments” Take Center Stage at Day One of Pardis Summit 2025

The opening day of the ninth Pardis Summit at the Iran International Innovation District brought together accelerators, co-working space managers, and technology ecosystem leaders to reflect on key turning points in Iran’s innovation journey, from early inspirations to defining decisions.

Held at Pardis Technology Park, the event featured speeches and panels around this year’s theme, Narrating Moments. Mehdi Saffari-Nia, President of Pardis Technology Park, stressed the mission to create a model innovation ecosystem where innovators, entrepreneurs, and technologists live and work together to build the future.

Seyed Ali Hazaveh, Deputy for Innovation Development, observed that every major decision stems from a moment of inspiration and awakening.

Mahdi Azimian, Head of the Innovation Acceleration Center, reported that 25 new accelerators joined the network in the past year, bringing the total to 106 accelerators and 28 co-working spaces nationwide. He highlighted participation in INOTEX 2025 and various training programs as part of efforts to revive entrepreneurship initiatives.

The “Moment of Destiny” panel saw Akbar Ghanbarpour underline that awakening is a shock leading to understanding, which must be followed by action. Farzin Ferdis emphasized embracing failure as the first step, while Radman Rabiei pointed out the challenge of sustaining momentum in Iran’s ecosystem. Maryam Taj-Abadi reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic as an awakening for science and stressed documenting failures to avoid future surprises.

A book launch for Innovation Acceleration documented the formation of the country’s earliest accelerators. Leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs shared insights on resilience, leadership, and navigating crises.

Day One concluded with the traditional “Fire Gathering” open-air networking session, fostering informal exchanges among participants in a relaxed, inspiring atmosphere. The summit continues with specialist panels, entrepreneurship sessions, and awards for top accelerators and co-working spaces.