ESCAP Co-Organizing Event in Tehran on SDGs, Startups

EghtesadOnline: Tehran will host the first edition of Asia-Pacific Innovation Forum on June 10-12, an event jointly organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Iran's Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology.

News ID: ۷۴۷۰۲۷

10 April 2019

Themed "Technology Startups for Sustainable Development", the meeting will focus on the role of tech startups in helping implement the UN-backed sustainable development goals or SDGs.

The goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

According to ESCAP website unescap.org, the gathering will be an opportunity to show the most innovative startup initiatives and technological advancement from across the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region, Financial Tribune reported.

Furthermore, the forum will introduce technology startups addressing sustainable development challenges, policymakers working on startup development strategies, leaders of technology parks, and public and private institutions wanting to invest in tech companies.

ESCAP is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region.

Iran is expecting the presence of science and technology ministers from 53 ESCAP member nations, including Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore and Japan along with tech firms and startups from the region and beyond.

INOTEX 2019

The timing of the forum coincides with the locally-sponsored International Innovation and Technology Exhibition (INOTEX 2019) slated for June 9-12 at the Tehran International Fairgrounds.

INOTEX has been held annually since 2012 offering a platform to startups to show their progress and future plans of action.

The four-day event is organized and funded jointly by Pardis Technology Park, sitting in east of Tehran, the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology and private enterprise.

According to the vice presidential office website, isti.ir, the exhibition organizers met the press on Monday.

"Such technology and entrepreneurship events help boost cooperation between innovators and investors," Mehdi Saffarinia, director of Pardis Technology Park told the reporters.

Teams and individuals who attend get access to sponsors, stakeholders and experts, and the chance to increase their proficiency and skills by connecting with their counterparts, he said.

The exhibition will focus on "innovation and technology ecosystem under one roof" with the aim of promoting overseas and domestic investment in home-grown startups and expanding cooperation between the startups and tech companies.

Building and Expanding

"INOTEX is a special place for participants to generate innovative ideas and topics on which new startups can build and expand."

The exhibition will be held in several categories; "Pitch" for example is a section, inviting the startup to compete with their rivals, pitching their products and services.

They will be scored and judged by a jury and the winners will get the added opportunity to be sponsored by the investors attending the event.

"Talent" is the other category, in which potential and talented university students and graduates will meet big tech for job placements.

Tech firms and startups wanting to attend can send their application to the INOTEX website, inotex.com until April 25.

Last year's edition in June 2018 brought together more than 1,000 firms, startups and knowledge-based companies. It attracted 25,000 visitors.