An inauguration ceremony for unveiling several development projects was held

In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohammad Jafar Sadigh Damghanizadeh, the President of ICT Park, warmly welcomed the guests attending the ceremony, and on the occasion of the Park's fourth anniversary, provided a historical overview of its establishment, highlighting its origins as a research project at the University of Tehran. Subsequently, the park obtained official licenses and approvals from relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, and others. He emphasized that the Park has been operational since 2019.

Dr. Mohammad Jafar Sadigh, referring to his personal experiences in founding the Isfahan Science and Technology Town, managing at the highest levels in the Plan and Budget Organization, and overseeing the Science and Technology Park at the University of Tehran, stated: "These past experiences and lessons learned resulted in a much faster formation, establishment, and development of ICT Park than expected. This is evident in the significant difference in timeframes for the successful completion of development and construction projects at ICT Park compared to other organizations and institutions."

The ministerial advisor, reflecting on the developmental stages that ICT Park has undergone in the past four years, stated: "Today, ICT Park comprises five active branches (Alborz, Semnan, Mashhad, Sari, and Isfahan), hosting a total of more than 90 technology and knowledge companies. These companies have developed over 190 technological products, each meticulously evaluated and characterized by immense technological depth and high competitive advantage. These products are showcased annually in the ICT Park Technology Atlas." 

Highlighting ICT Park's initiative in establishing the Digital Economy Development Network (DEDN), Dr. Mohammad Jafar Sadigh continued: "Another key feature of ICT Park activities is the synergistic utilization of capacities and existing potential in various domains across the country, which we have achieved through the establishment of the DEDN, comprising more than 30 science and technology Parks and business incubators. Today, many of our activities are carried out in a networked manner, enabling other members of this network to benefit from ICT Park's capacities and advantages, including various grants (seed, growth, internationalization, etc.)."  

In conclusion, Dr. Mohammad Jafar Sadigh mentioned some of ICT Park's most strategic projects, such as the Park's wastewater treatment plant, container data centres, IoT-based smart greenhouse, and the solar panel site establishment program: “Regardless of construction and development activities, another important part of the Park's activities is focused on driving projects in the field of new technologies, which due to their strategic importance in the fields of food security, national information network, environmental protection and ..., their fruition has many effects and blessings at the national and even regional level from the point of view of job creation, entrepreneurship and wealth production, and we have gathered here today to take advantage of some of the outputs of these driving projects. Concurrently, we will also unveil four technological products," he added.

A: Projects Inaugurated in This Special Event

Digital Content Creation Laboratories and the Formation of Technology Teams 

One of the main driving projects of ICT Park is digital content creation. Besides its significant potential for entrepreneurship and job creation, it can also lead to increased exports of cultural products to various regions of Iran. Currently, over 50% of the space in ICT Park's Mashhad branch is dedicated to two accelerators: 'GreenTech' and 'Nitech,' which specifically focus on digital content creation activities. 

In addition to the Mashhad branch, the Alborz branch is also developing two digital content creation laboratories. They aim to collaborate with accelerators in the communications and information technology sector to provide training and empowerment opportunities for freelancers in the realms of video game development and animation. 

In its first phase, this project is being implemented in the provinces of Alborz (2 centers), Zanjan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Semnan, Kurdistan, and Kermanshah. The second phase is planned to expand to five other selected provinces, eventually aiming for nationwide implementation. 

The operational process in each of these laboratories involves the formation of technology teams, each having a shared workspace, a digital content creation laboratory focused on game development and animation using server-client systems and plug-and-play infrastructure, as well as an interactive training classroom.

In these centers, prospective individuals are identified through a call for applications, and events such as boot camps, startup weekends, etc., are organized to assess the abilities of applicants, evaluate their talents, and determine their training needs. Subsequently, skill development courses are provided to them in various formats, including in-person, virtual, or blended options, tailored to meet their specific requirements.

In this program, up to 30% of the training course costs (based on evaluations approved by the park) are covered according to the guidelines for supporting skill-based entrepreneurship training. The remaining 70% of the fees are reimbursed to select participants at the end of the acceleration program, according to those guidelines.

Furthermore, participants who successfully complete the entire course will gain access to 6 months of free or preferential-rate co-working space in the shared workspace section. This opportunity allows them to continue their activities, whether as freelancers or as company founders. Additionally, qualified participants will be eligible for up to 200 million Rials in amenities to purchase necessary equipment and services after completing the training course and passing the qualitative evaluation.

Public and Specialized ICT Park Laboratories

ICT Park aims to facilitate the growth and development of technology in tech-based units and companies, foster innovative thinking in the field of information and communications technology, and support member companies by reducing costs for establishing required laboratories. To achieve this, the Park has established research laboratories in areas related to its scope of activities.

To this date, ICT Park has established three laboratories: a Food Chain Safety Laboratory, a Smart Logistics Laboratory, and an Internet of Things (IoT)-based Public Laboratory. Additionally, laboratories in the provinces of Zanjan, Semnan, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari are currently under development. It is worth mentioning that these laboratories are designed to cater to the needs of the entire country if needed.

Users of these laboratories include member companies of ICT Park or the DEDN, students working on approved projects supervised by lab supervisors within the laboratory council, and faculty members of universities or research centers with cooperation agreements with the Park. Additionally, external companies or interested parties outside the Park or the DEDN can utilize the laboratory facilities for specific periods of time. Access is granted upon the proposal of the laboratory supervisor, approval by the laboratory manager, under the supervision of and in coordination with a lab specialist.

Smart Greenhouse Monitoring System

This greenhouse monitoring system is currently in the pilot stage, operating in several provinces in the country. The main objective of this project is to achieve centralized control of covered greenhouses and provide various services based on customer needs in the fields of smart unit automation, climate and nutritional management, and the optimization of value and supply chains. Other key goals of the project include water consumption management, increased performance, improved product quality, and precise scientific management of controlled environments. For these purposes, ICT Park has established a number of smart greenhouses and fully equipped workshops and cultivation rooms as main laboratories. These facilities serve as testing and evaluation grounds for the equipment and components provided by private companies seeking to join the Park's network and operate as network members. Furthermore, dissertations and theses focusing on ensuring food security using Internet of Things technology are being conducted in these laboratories.

Smart Logistics Laboratory

One of the technologies that has created new prospects for the development and progress of various industries in recent decades is the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. As this technology has emerged from its initial military applications and entered the domain of research and development by large corporations, new markets have opened up for the utilization of UAVs. Examining the performance of various companies shows that this technology has found its place in agriculture, energy-related industries, and even the film industry. 

The aerial logistics market, utilizing drone technology, has emerged as an enticing revenue-generating opportunity sought after by numerous renowned companies worldwide. Today, due to the expansion of cities and the increase in population, the need for postal transportation is more pronounced than ever before. To reduce the costs of transporting parcels, one solution is to use multirotors for transportation. This type of transportation results in time savings, mechanized delivery to customers, and a reduction in air pollution (due to the electric nature of multi-rotor drones), among other benefits.

The Smart Logistics Laboratory has been established with the aim of developing necessary technologies in the field of control, planning, and guidance of multi-rotor drones for aviation services applications. Such services can encompass inspection and monitoring in various areas, including security, energy, agriculture, and postal transportation, all conducted by drones. 

One of the defined objectives in this laboratory is to transport postal parcels weighing up to 10 kilograms using drones. The drones will move the postal parcels between landing stations based on registered requests. The user will drop off their parcel at the landing station and register their request in the relevant system. Then, the mechanized landing station will guide the package under the drone and hand it over to the drone's gripper. The central control system will send the nearest drone to the station to receive the package according to the registered request. The drones will be managed and controlled through a network and by the central system. Finally, the drone will deliver the package to the destination landing station, where the mechanized station will hand it over to the intended user.

Center for Pioneering Innovations

The Center for Pioneering Innovations is designed to provide support for accomplished individuals in the development of new products and the establishment of technology-based businesses. In this center, ICT Park, in collaboration with Bank Melli Iran, will offer venture capital (VC) funding to support the development of software and hardware necessary for the country's banking network and the companies involved in it. Supported cores and teams will be selected from among academic and industrial elites, working as part of a startup studio to develop an idea, produce a prototype, and conduct software and hardware tests on the product. If the product created meets the desired standards of the customer company or party, it will enter the market through quality guarantee contracts. Additionally, the company established through this process will gain ICT Park membership. With the support and infrastructure of ICT Park, it will expand its product market and develop its portfolio while operating as an independent entity.

The ICT Park Center for Pioneering Innovations intends to collaborate with other leading companies that hold significant market shares nationally, to develop essential products required for the country's growth. The establishment of this center aims to contribute to job creation, providing high-level employment opportunities for talented individuals, with the ultimate goal of retaining the country's valuable human capital. 

Remote Rehabilitation Center

Remote rehabilitation has gained significant attention worldwide as an intelligent solution for providing rehabilitation services to individuals who lack access to healthcare and specialized centers in their living areas. Thanks to its considerable advantages, such as preventive capabilities, reduced hospital visits, decreased hospitalizations, cost-effectiveness, and more, this practice has been widely embraced.

In collaboration with the Sports and Exercise Medicine Research Center of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Shariati Hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, ICT Park has taken the initiative to establish the first remote rehabilitation center in the country. This groundbreaking initiative has brought about a significant transformation in the field of patient rehabilitation.

At ICT Park's Remote Rehabilitation Center, individuals can engage in their regular physical exercises while simultaneously sharing health-related data (including cardiac and respiratory data, among others) through telemonitoring software with contracted medical centers. This data is then reviewed and utilized by specialized professionals for relevant treatment processes.

In the second phase of this center, home-based remote rehabilitation devices (Tele Home Care) are being designed. These devices will enable individuals to receive specialized medical care and monitoring in the comfort of their homes.

ICT Park Quadrilingual News Website

One of the most crucial objectives of ICT Park is to serve as the voice of the country's ICT innovations and technology ecosystem. This objective has been achieved by showcasing developments and achievements in the ICT field in prominent world languages through the ICT Park Quadrilingual News Website available at (www.ict-park.ir).

The ICT Park News Website presently operational and consistently updated in four languages: Persian, English, Arabic, and Pashto. "In addition to this website, ICT Park use various crucial tools and persuasive techniques to provide accurate and transparent information to both domestic and international audiences. These include the ICT Park Monthly Quadrilingual Newsletter, the Park's news outlet, multilingual thematic bulletins, multimedia content, virtual tours, news podcasts, and multilingual advertising brochures.

B: Four Technology Products Unveiled by Member Companies During This Special Event

Concurrent with the inauguration of ICT Park's development projects, the fourth unveiling event and the third exhibition of selected products by member companies of ICT Park took place on August 1st, 2023. 

During this exhibition, four qualified products were unveiled among the products introduced by member companies, based on technical evaluations. Alongside this unveiling, fifteen other technology companies had the opportunity to showcase their new tech products at ICT Park's permanent tech exhibition hall. The exhibition was enthusiastically attended by both the attendees of the special event and visitors.
A glimpse of the four products unveiled by ICT Park member companies during this special event.