Iran Press/Iran-Speaking at the 35th International Conference of Science and Technology Parks in the central Iranian city of Isfahan on Monday, Sourena Sattari referred to "science and technology cities and towns" , saying these will play a very important role in "knowledge-based economies", acting as the driving engine for the economy.
Iran's vice president for science and technology pointedly added: "For over a 100 years, Iran's economy has been based upon oil , relying on oil export and oil revenues. But during the past five years or so, we have invested heavily in knowledge-based economies and knowledge-based hi-tech companies."
Elsewhere in his remarks, Sattari said hi-tech jobs created by these "knowledge-based companies" will soon be a very significant economic factor. He added: "We have over 4.5 million university students, and about 49 million internet users in Iran. We have a well-trained and well-educated workforce in Iran. In an oil-based economy, everyone thinks of money as the driving force for change, innovation and progress. But in a knowledge-based economy, it is science and technology which leads to innovation and progress."
Elsewhere in his remarks, Sourena Sattari said sales of products produced by Iranian nanotechnology companies reached 300 million dollars last year. Sattari added: "Our education system is changing rapidly. Certainly, knowledge-based companies will play an increasingly important role in the future economy of this country."
