Official: Iran seeks transition from oil to knowledge-based economy

EghtesadOnline: Oil share in Iran's economy has been decreased to about 20 percent which is a reasonable figure compared to the resource-rich countries, said Vice-President for Science and Technology on Wednesday.

News ID: ۷۷۶۱۶۵

13 May 2017

In the third day of the 20th UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development in Geneva (UNCSTD) attended by various countries' representatives, high-ranking officials and science ministers, a report on Iran's policies in science and technology was unveiled, IRNA reported.

Referring to the importance of global knowledge exchange and experience on science and technology policy-making as well as in innovation arena, Sorena Sattari described the compilation and sharing such experiences as a big step in global learning.

Writing the report, including assessment and analysis of the function and evolution indices of Iran's national innovation system, plus an analysis of its biotechnology, and gas and oil sectors, began in August 2015, and after a joint 18-months attempt by UNCTAD and Iran's Science and Technology Vice Presidency, it was published in December 2016.

The Iranian official pointed to the promotion of Iran's scientific rank from 34 to 16 during 2005-2016, and said that new technologies such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, renewable energies, cognitive sciences and stem cells have expanded significantly in Iran.

Pointing to Iran's resolve to transit from oil-based economy to a science-based one, Sattari declared that the oil share in the country's economy had been decreased to about 20 percent.

'Scientific and technological cooperation among Iran and other countries has been expanded since the implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA), and Iran has tried more to attract knowledge and science through its agreements,' according to him.

Vice president noted that a combination of infrastructures and programs, particularly at Iran's Science and Technology Vice-Presidency, had led to innovating ecosystem expansion and could pave the way for emerging technologies and science-based employment in the future.

Signing agreements, including memoranda of understanding (MoU)with Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Geneva Hospital and the Swiss company LSRO, are scheduled for his visit to Switzerland.