Tehran Deploys Startups to Overhaul Urban Services

EghtesadOnline: Urban authorities, tech enthusiasts and startup owners gathered in Tehran on Monday to discuss smart solutions for overhauling location-based urban services.

News ID: ۷۴۷۸۳۰

10 July 2019

Titled InnoTehran, a portmanteau made by combining innovation and Tehran, the event was jointly held by Tehran Municipality, Iranian Space Agency, Iran ICT Guild Organization and Iran National Innovation Fund, TM's ICT Organization reported.

At the event, the startups’ pivotal role in addressing urban issues was highlighted. The authorities listed TM's shortcomings in location-based services and called on startups active in the field to offer innovative and technological solutions to tackle the issues.

Speaking at the event, Mohammad Farjoud, the head of Tehran Municipality ICT Organization, said the municipality is working on 100 pilot plans on transforming the capital into a smart city, Financial Tribune reported.

The plans include transport fleet management, Tehran 3D model and a smart interactive map of the capital city.

Smart city is a concept, based on which urban services are offered through smart technology and Internet of Things, aimed at making life more convenient for the residents of metropolises like Tehran.

"TM is set to make the plans operational in two years, so it needs the innovative contribution of startups and tech firms to realize the goal," he said.

API Platform

Farjoud noted that an open Application Programming Interface platform on Tehran's transportation data will soon become available, offering startups and tech firms free access to the city's urban databases for setting up new services.

API is a package of codes that may or may not do a task independently. A well-designed API makes it easier to develop a computer program by providing all the building blocks that are then put together by programmers.

The code packages are accessible through the website Api.data.tehran.ir. For using the service, developers need to send a request to Tehran Municipality.

Tehran City Council first launched the open API portal at the Second Smart Tehran Congress held in December 2018.

API packages cover a wide range of fields from communication services to urban transport and subway network, education and healthcare. Some code libraries are yet to be uploaded on the website.

Experts believe that open data approach, in addition to boosting transparency augurs well for competitiveness.

Financial Support

Siavash Malekifar, an INIF official, also expressed the fund’s readiness to financially and technically support knowledge-based companies and tech firms in helping develop their ideas in the field.

TM is to set up an online system to receive innovative solutions by all startups and tech firms. It believes harnessing smart technologies and the Internet of Things can help resolve chronic problems facing metropolises for decades, particularly air pollution and traffic.

Monday's event was the third edition of InnoTehran. Earlier editions focused on urban waste management and fire department services and equipment.