In the opening panel, Ali Motamedzadegan, the chairman of STPIA, Zahra Mohammad Hashemi, the deputy of the technology infrastructure development office, and Iraj Alahdadi, the deputy of technology development in Science and Technology Park of Tehran University were present, while welcoming the guests, the workshop's objectives were discussed, and the importance of evaluating the performance of innovation organizations in improving their progress was emphasized. In the following, Dr. Ali Motamedzadegan gave explanations in English about the objectives, programs and missions of the association.The first panel started with the speeches of Hossein Al-Mahmoudi, Luis Sanz, and Sasha Wunsch Vincent with the facilitation of Mostafa Karimian Iqbal who presented their content and important points regarding the evaluation and ranking of science and technology parks.First, Hossein Al Mahmoudi, the head of the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) division in IASP, pointed out the impact of this division's role in creating communication in the IASP organization, and further emphasized the importance of the concept of evaluation in the performance of all innovation organizations in the world, saying that through evaluation, organizations can achieve a standard evaluation structure to use that structure for their growth and development.Then Luis from IASP talked about the promotion of the organization's brand as an advantage of membership in associations and added: that what is important is the credibility of the institution that performs the evaluation process; Sometimes only the certificate is exchanged between the assessor and the assesses, or sometimes the assessment is not comprehensive and only has a local or regional aspect.

The morning panel ended with the speech of Sasha Wunsch Vincent from WIPO and GII who spoke about the future of innovation and the important role of megatrends in today's world. He gave explanations in the continuation of the 2023 global innovation index report and its seven main pillars, which consist of two main components, innovation input, and innovation output indicators then Iran's position in GII 2023 was investigated and analyzed in full detail.In the afternoon panel or other words, experience transfer panel workshop; experts from Iran discussed the following topics:

1: Statement of the purpose of evaluation and validation for organizations

2: Validity of the evaluating organization

3. The transparency of the measurement process

4. Correct use of evaluation results

5. Having a regional view of validation

6. Use of internal to the organization's assessment method

7. Using the necessary guide for evaluation indicators

8. Evaluation in a certain period

In the ending panel, Dr. Motamedzadegan, the chairman of STPIA appreciated the members of the panels and participants and finally, the audience expressed their opinions and suggestions about this workshop.

An introduction to STPIA

Iran Association of Science Parks and Innovation Organizations (STPIA) is a non-governmental membership-based organization established in 2013 with most of the Science & Technology Parks and many technology incubators, accelerators & research, and technology funds as our members. STPIA's main visions include the coordination of an active network of managers of science/technology/research parks, innovation districts, and other areas of innovation, governmental negotiation, and negotiation with lawmakers on the national innovation ecosystem, assisting in the development of new parks and areas of innovation, and increasing the visibility of its members and multiplying their connections. The main goals of STPIA are providing a solid network for individuals and legal entities involved in innovation and technology, evaluation and accreditation of innovation ecosystems, and cooperation with administrative, scientific, and research institutions to promote the innovation ecosystem in Iran.

What does STPIA do?

STPIA is part of a collective identity with national and international prestige and networking is at the heart of what we do, through networking experiences are shared between members. (in the field of national and international technology and innovation).

STPIA’s networking support enables our members to make meaningful connections through personal introductions, leading to new collaborations, projects, and ideas.

STPIA’s plans (Conferences, Workshops, Technology tours, and high-quality publications)

The STPIA’s plans include holding national conferences, workshops, and technology tours, where the full potential of our dynamic association is put into play: people meet, exchange knowledge and information, establish alliances, and develop new joint projects. STPIA holds many national events, including conferences, technology tours, and workshops all over Iran. Every year, STPIA members from different parts of Iran host our annual conference and regional events, and we assist them every step of the way. In addition to the mentioned plans, STPIA publishes a varied collection of newsletters, magazines, papers, and books on STPs and AOIs, enabling members to compare models and trends.

Dear STPIA International Partners,

As we approach the conclusion of another remarkable year, we wish to take a moment to extend our deepest gratitude for your invaluable partnership and steadfast support throughout this journey of nurturing enterprising entrepreneurs and innovators for an ever-changing world. Your collaboration and trust serve as the bedrock of our success, and we are profoundly thankful for the privilege of working alongside you. Your unwavering dedication has had a profound impact on our members, economies, and societies, propelling us closer to shared goals and aspirations.

As we usher in the New Year, we eagerly anticipate the continuation of our shared journey. Together, let's explore new opportunities for innovation development and strive for even greater heights of success. May the New Year 2024 bring you joy, peace, and cherished moments with loved ones, and may the coming year be marked by prosperity and continued achievements.

Warm regards,

STPIA Team

The 3rd national conference of the Iran Association of Science Parks and Innovation Organizations (STPIA)

The 3rd national conference of the Iran Association of Science Parks and Innovation Organizations (STPIA) with the title Regional Innovation Development: The Role of Government, University, Private Sector, and Society was held in the presence of more than 400 people and hosted by Yazd Science and Technology Park in the historic city of Yazd, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on November 8th and 9th, 2023.

The national conference was an opportunity to build awareness among STPIA members and prominent participants from Iran. About 50 lectures and articles were presented at this two-day conference. The conference also held 12 plenary sessions on a variety of subjects, including: policy making in science and technology parks; development of an innovation ecosystem in urban areas; culture and innovation society; money and innovation capital; the quadratic helix; and the cooperation of the government, private sector, university, and society in the development of regional and national innovation.

The annual general assembly of STPIA was held during this meeting. The general assembly selected Alborz Science and Technology Park to host the 2024 conference. At the end of the second day of the conference, the participants visited historical landmarks in Yazd and continued networking in a more informal environment.

EBBA LUND CEO, IASP – International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation

Dear esteemed authorities, dear colleagues. I extend my thanks to STPIA for inviting me to say a few words to you all today at this, the 3rd STPIA National Conference, and my warmest appreciation to Chairman Ali Motamedzadegan for passing on my message.

At IASP, as the world's largest international association for innovation ecosystems, encompassing science & technology parks, innovation districts, areas of innovation and the like, we know the value of forums such as these when it comes to cross-sector knowledge sharing and networking.

With more than 300 IASP members in 80 countries, representing 115,000 high-tech companies worldwide, we connect STP & AOI experts from around the world and support them to promote sustainable economic development. IASP acts as a bridge between innovation communities in different countries, encouraging and facilitating science and technology cooperation and development at a global level, and over the years we have seen how Iran has been consistently building, growing and developing in our industry.

One of the core mandates of an STP or AOI is essentially to manage and influence its innovation ecosystem, and of course to be aligned with stakeholders. When you are dealing with Government, University, Private Sector, and Society there are many elements to take into account and balance carefully. Meetings such as where you all are today are increasingly important when it comes to building cooperation, allowing science park managers and other science and innovation experts to meet their peers, form new collaborations and develop initiatives. It is via these collaborations that we can jointly address the challenges faced by innovation ecosystems, on both national and global levels, and I’m sure that this event focusing on Regional Innovation Development will provide truly valuable insights and takeaways on the intertwinement of the quadruple helix.

We wish you all the best with the event and congratulations to the organising team, STPIA and IASP member Yazd Science & Technology Park for all of their hard work and efforts in the preparations, which we are sure will result in a great conference!