The Commission of Research and Technology Funds, as one of the specialized committees of the National Association of Venture Capital, held an important meeting focused on addressing the challenges facing these funds and electing new board members.
Key topics discussed in the meeting included the establishment of reinsurance mechanisms to cover investment risks, issues surrounding value-added tax (VAT), strengthening coordination with the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy and the Innovation and Prosperity Fund, and the need to revise existing laws and regulations governing the funds. These matters are considered fundamental challenges to the development path of research and technology funds and, ultimately, to the advancement of the knowledge-based economy in Iran.
Following expert discussions, elections for the board of the Commission were held. Seven individuals were elected as permanent board members, and two were elected as alternates:
Permanent Board Members:
- Hossein Joghatai (Elm-o-Sanat Research and Technology Fund)
- Behzad Ghasemi (Zanjan Research and Technology Fund)
- Fereydoon Sadeghi (Shahid Beheshti Research and Technology Fund)
- Mohammad Morvaj-al-Ahkami (Isfahan Research and Technology Fund)
- Seyed Mehdi Sadat Hayatshahi (Creative Industries Research and Technology Fund)
- Alireza Navabpour (FanAsa Research and Technology Fund)
- Nima Rouhani (Karimeh Research and Technology Fund)
Alternate Members:
- Hamideh Razavi (Khorasan Razavi Research and Technology Fund)
- Seyed Mohammadreza Hosseini Fatemi (Qazvin Research and Technology Fund)
With the election of the new board members, the Commission is expected to develop strategic solutions leveraging members’ experience and a practical approach to significantly enhance the role of research and technology funds in the growth of the country’s knowledge-based economy.
As a central and influential entity in the development of Iran’s innovation and technology ecosystem, the National Association of Venture Capital plays a pivotal role in coordinating among funds, knowledge-based companies, and policymaking bodies. Acting as a bridge between the private sector and the government, the Association strives to foster collaboration and synergy to mitigate financial and legal barriers faced by funds and investors. Other key roles of the Association include member training and capacity building, organizing specialized events, and facilitating networking among stakeholders in the venture capital ecosystem, all of which contribute to knowledge enhancement and experience exchange.
Within this framework, the Commission of Research and Technology Funds aims to analyze sector-specific issues and facilitate inter-organizational collaboration, offering a clear vision for strengthening the financial and managerial capacities of the funds. The Commission’s main goal is to increase the effectiveness of the funds in supporting knowledge-based companies and accelerating the development of emerging technologies. Future priorities of the Commission include drafting policy packages to address legal and financial obstacles and expanding training and empowerment programs for fund managers. Through facilitating expert meetings and exchanges among funds, the Commission has played an effective role in aligning strategies and enhancing operational collaboration among research and technology funds.
The session concluded with a strong emphasis on synergy among the funds to overcome existing challenges, and the election of new board members. It is expected that the newly elected members, by focusing on the raised issues and developing practical solutions, will take meaningful steps toward strengthening the role of research and technology funds in advancing the knowledge-based economy.
No comment