Tehran, Iran, June 26
By Mehdi Sepahvand – Trend:
There are 2,400 science-based companies in Iran, according to Deputy Vice Minister for Science and Technology Ali Vatani.
There were only two such companies in 2013, but now they have increased in number 1,200 times, he told IRIB TV June 25.
The official said a 20-year national development plan says by 2050, 50 percent of Iran’s gross domestic product should be coming from science-based companies.
“While Iran’s oil-derived revenue used to comprise 100 percent of the country’s budget, it now only comprises 15 of the budget,” Vatani underlined.
“We have about 4.7 million students and young workforce aging 25 to 35 right now.”
Despite the good workforce, Iran is running low on budget because of a huge decline in crude prices.
The country has also been unable to attract foreign investment because of sanctions.
Economic sanctions on Iran were lifted in January, but the country is still unable to conduct banking relations with overseas.
Foreign investors often praise Iran for its well-educated workforce.