Tehran Municipality Eyes Potentials of Startups

EghtesadOnline: In an effort to upgrade urban services via the internet of things, smart technologies and innovative ideas, Tehran Municipality is planning to tap into the potentials of local startups.

News ID: ۷۴۹۸۰۱

07 March 2020

TM plans to host a tech fair, during which startups would get a chance of showcasing their latest products and achievements. However, urban managers are yet to announce a final date and venue for the event, the municipality's website Tehran.ir reported.

Investors are expected to attend the event, which can help knowledge-based companies attract investments and expand their enterprises, according to Financial Tribune.

After the tech firms are enlisted, they will be evaluated in terms of quality and productivity. The eligible knowledge-based companies will get the opportunity to forge agreements with investors and major companies to expand their businesses and simultaneously help TM develop advanced urban facilities.

To achieve this objective, TM's Information and Communications Technologies Organization has issued a public call for forging partnership with two private firms that would help TM identify leading startups and manage the fair.

Tech units, startups and knowledge-based companies willing to cooperate with TM are required to submit their application on Tehran.ir.

Tech Transformation

Transforming the Iranian capital into a smart city has been a priority of TM, as it has focused on the application of smart solutions and the internet of things technology in urban management since past few years.

Projects entailing the application of smart technologies have been implemented in Iran, including the replacement of old electricity meters with smart grids to increase the accuracy of monitoring consumption. Smart power meters digitally send meter readings to energy suppliers via the internet to undertake more accurate billing.

Currently, TM and Tehran Traffic Police are using automated smart surveillance systems to identify old and dilapidated cars that are the main source of air pollution in the metropolis.

The installation of online air quality monitoring systems across the capital is one of the technologies used widely since past many years.

Smart parking meters have been installed and activated in Tehran's District 2 in the north-central part of the city. It enables drivers to reserve roadside parking spots and pay online via a smartphone application.

TM's ICT organization ran a pilot project in Sorkheh Hesar National Park on the eastern flank of the capital in January 2019 to convert it into the country's first smart park.

The initiative envisaged equipping the park with smart security cameras, smart parking lots and a smart watering system which, unlike traditional irrigation controllers that operate on a preset schedule and timers, controls weather monitor, soil conditions, evaporation and plant water use to automatically adjust the watering schedule to site conditions.

TM has welcomed collaboration with companies and individuals whose products and services can help alleviate problems such as air pollution and traffic congestion.

Smart Tehran Congress

Tehran tech authorities have been annually holding events dubbed Smart City Congress since December 2019, gathering domestic tech teams, startups and knowledge-based companies to present their achievements and ideas in the field. The move has been also to identify and implement innovative ideas and projects related to the smart city concept.

Mainly organized by TM's ICT Organization and Tehran-based universities, the congress intends to bring together academicians, researchers, entrepreneurs and representatives of knowledge-based firms to help Tehran become a smart city.

At the gathering, special panels address the need for modern management of urban affairs via location-based approaches, smart transportation, environment protection and extension of urban services via artificial intelligence to promote the quality of life indices by tapping into modern technologies.

The annual event explores open and big data, ways of raising public awareness of the latest technological developments in urban services, productivity of urban management and data-based sustainable economy, while supporting tech teams and startups operating in the field.

Innovation contests, training workshops, tech-oriented meetings, public gatherings and a small-scale exhibition of smart products developed by startups and knowledge-based companies are among the other TM plans in line with the realization of a smart city.

Municipalities believe the use of smart solutions and the internet of things technology can help resolve chronic problems facing metropolises for decades, particularly air pollution and traffic congestion, to make life more convenient for people.