EghtesadOnline: A memorandum of understanding was signed between MTN-Irancell, University of Tehran and science and technology officials on Sunday, working toward the establishment of a venture capital fund and a startup accelerator which are to help promote knowledge-based firms and startups.

EghtesadOnline: Knowledge-based firms received about 24.4 trillion rials ($540 million) in loans from banks and credit institutions in the first nine months of the current fiscal year to Dec. 21, the Central Bank of Iran announced.

EghtesadOnline: Iranian knowledge-based firms will cooperate with the French Peugeot-Citroën to produce certain types of polymers used in the automotive industry.

EghtesadOnline: Government-backed Innovation and Prosperity Fund (NSFund) has said it will sponsor local knowledge-based firms to attend international events and expos.

EghtesadOnline: Export of goods and services of knowledge-based companies to Muslim countries is planned through collaboration with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Iran’s vice president for science and technology said.

EghtesadOnline: The Knowledge-Based Companies and Institutions Center affiliated to the Office of the Vice Presidency and the Central Insurance company have jointly developed a program for providing knowledge-based startups with insurance.

EghtesadOnline: State-owned Bank Melli Iran (BMI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Presidential Office for Science and Technology to create a new hub for startups and support innovative ideas.

EghtesadOnline: Total sales of Iran’s six major startups surpassed 20 trillion rials ($533 million) during the past fiscal that ended in March, said Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari.