Science and Technology Parks to Promote University – Industry Collaboration in Iran Mostafa K. Eghbal President of West Asia & North Africa Division International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) Russian Technopark’s Meeting, 2015

Triple Helix Model Etzkowitz, 2002 “The "triple helix” is a spiral model of innovation that captures multiple reciprocal relationships at different points in the process of knowledge capitalization.”

Triple Helix Model of Innovation for Developing Countries? Triple Helix Model

Government Role (in developing countries) Government University Industry

Colleges and Universities: 4, 500,000 students 60% women Rapid increase in graduate studies Schools: 18,000,000 students WELL TRAINED HUMAN RESOURCES, BUT: Less job opportunities Weak entrepreneurship culture Brain drain Background on Iran

Third Development Plan ( ) Emphasizing and investing more on Research Relative success in scientific development Science and Technology in Iran

Less success in innovation during the 3 rd Innovation Plan Science: Conversion of Money in to Knowledge Innovation: Conversion of Knowledge in to Money Science and Technology in Iran

ä A big push to the development of SMEs ä Provide support services for SMEs ä Encourage entrepreneurship culture ä Establish science parks and incubators ä Develop seed money and venture capital ä Design an innovation strategy Recommendations of UN Commission on S&T Development: 18 th Session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development,Geneva, May 2005 Science and Technology in Iran

ä Emphasizing on Knowledge Based Economy ä Developing Innovative Culture  Encouraging Entrepreneurship  Upgrading quality of products and services  Encouraging competitiveness ä Support for SMEs  Incubators  Science and Technology Parks Planning for Improvements 4 th and 5 th (starting) Development Plans

Government Role (Before) Government University Industry

Government Role (Recent) Government University Industry

Missing links University Research Centers University Research Centers Private Research Tech Org. Private Research Tech Org. Tech- based SMEs Tech- based SMEs R&D units R&D units Industry (Market) Industry (Market) Science Parks and Incubators

Science and Technology Parks in Iran Trend of growth in the number of STPs in Iran Updated on: 12/11/2014

Science & Technology Parks in Iran

Technology Business Incubators in Iran Trend of growth in the number of incubators Updated on: 17/01/2015

Business Incubators in Iran Most of TBIs are affiliated to the developed and matured STPs in Iran

Tenant companies

Tenant Companies Employment

University STPs

University STPs require a model that may be more suited for a university owned and operated science and technology park.

ä Three key questions: 1. Who are the clients of the park? 2. What kinds of value added services should be provided for the clients? 3. What are the possible sources of funding for the park? University STPs

Financial Resources Value Added Services ParkClients Sustainable Values University STPs

ä Students and Faculty members ä Small and medium size enterprises and start-up companies ä A segment of industry that has a close relationship with the university University STPs: Clients

Industry Division University STPs: Services

University STP

Conclusion ä Importance of University – Industry interaction for a knowledge – based economy ä Innovation by private sector with the support of the government ä Positive role of STPs and Incubators ä Although developing countries such as Iran still face many challenges, but there are many opportunities and many success stories in these and other countries to learn from