An introductory webinar on Iran-Finland innovation ecosystems was held by Iran National Innovation Fund

An introductory webinar on Iran-Finland innovation ecosystems was held by Iran National Innovation Fund on November 9, 2021 by Iran National Innovation Fund (INIF).

Sohrab Assa, the international affairs manager of INIF, put an emphasis on the high capacity of STI Diplomacy & the Role of Innovation Ecosystems to build constructive international partnerships and address common global problems. He stated, “Iran National Innovation Fund along with other Iran’s significant Science and technology actors and players, plays an important role to define, support and execute Iran’s STI diplomacy principals to establish a new way of dealing with other nations”.

International affairs manager of INIF commented on the topics of webinar and said, “In this webinar the firms get familiar with the role of Iran and Finland innovation ecosystems and the power of STI diplomacy to establish new roots of scientific, innovative and economic cooperation”. He then said the main topics include:

• Iran Innovation Ecosystem (A Brief Introduction); video
• Finland Innovation Ecosystem (A Brief Introduction); video
• STI Diplomacy & The Role of Innovation Ecosystems by Mr. Sohrab Assa; INIF International Affairs Manager
• Speech of H.E. Forouzandeh Vadiati; Iran Ambassador to Finland
• Speech of H.E. Kari Kahiluoto; Finland Ambassador to Iran
• Iran’s Innovation Ecosystem: Potentials, Opportunities & Outlook by Mr. Qaemi; Innovation Consultant in Iran and Netherlands
• Finland’s Innovation Ecosystem and City of Helsinki Role in that by Mr. Teemu Seppälä; Business Advisor-Startups Soft Landing, City of Helsinki
• Navigating the Startup Ecosystem by Mr. Jouni Lounasmaa; CEO of Startup Foundation

 

At the end of his statement, Sohrab Assa noted: “Today, I can proudly declare that innovation ecosystems of Iran and Finland can start their cooperation based on STI diplomacy principals to exchange ideas, experiences, and technologies implement mutual projects to cope with regional and global problems, boost their economies and meet their needs in various fields”.

The second speaker of this webinar Ms.Forouzandeh Vadiati; Iran Ambassador to Finland gave a brief introduction on Iran’s innovation ecosystem, then pointed to Slush as an important innovation and startup event in Finland that gathers the innovation activists, startups and investors from all over the world together annually and promoted Iranian startups and TBF’s to participate in the event to use the universal experiences and develop networks.

Following the event, Mr. Kari Kahiluoto; Finland Ambassador to Iran began his speech by expressing happiness from holding the webinar and wishing to increase relations in the field of innovation and technology between two countries. He also mentioned that entrepreneurship, research and development, startups and innovation ecosystem are the most important issues for Finland government during the last decade. At the end of his speech, he wished success for Innovation activists in two sides.

Mr. Qaemi was another lecturer of the webinar and presented some contents on Iran’s National innovation Ecosystem and its associated infrastructure, Trend of Iran’s general STI context over the past decade, Iran’s efforts and key mechanisms to improve innovation and entrepreneurship. He also brought some examples of Iranian startups and explained Iran’s Fintech ecosystem in his presentation.

Then it was the turn of the Finnish speaker- Mr. Teemu Seppälä; Business Advisor, to talk about some topics as: The importance of R&D for Finland, Finland's position in the world in terms of innovation, innovation financing, and Helsinki’s incentives to attract foreign capital, support startups and promote R&D. He also emphasized on Networking in the field of innovation and startups and gave a brief introduction to Helsinki startup ecosystem.

At the end of the webinar, the two sides emphasized on the expansion of cooperation in the field of innovation by means of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) diplomacy as a powerful, peaceful and efficient strategy.