The University of Tehran Science and Technology Park, a pioneer in establishing connections between academia and industry

The University of Tehran Science and Technology Park organized the ‘Fouladi Show’ event in collaboration with the Mobarakeh Steel Development and Innovation Support Company.
The event, held on September 12th, was attended by Dr. Ali Asadi, the head of the University of Tehran Science and Technology Park, Dr. Yahya Palizdar, the CEO of the Mobarakeh Steel Development and Innovation Support Company, as well as deputies and executives of both institutions, idea owners, technology companies, and startups.

Dr. Asadi defined the Fouladi Show event as a practical operational connection between the university and industry, stating that university has always been involved in matters of education, research, society, and industry, and today, the establishment of connections between the university and industry is in progress.

He announced various collaborations with the Mobarakeh Steel Group for the expansion of physical space, stating that in collaboration with the Mobarakeh Steel Development and Innovation Support Company, a 3000-square-meter space will be added to the innovation and technology ecosystem of the University of Tehran Science and Technology Park within the next year, to be made available to knowledge-based companies for utilization.

Dr. Asadi mentioned that the Steel Show event is part of the TANA (Provincial Innovation Ecosystem Development) plan, emphasizing that TANA is a multi-faceted event providing an opportunity for all key players in the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem to participate and act, and the University of Tehran Science and Technology Park acts as the secretariat for TANA in Tehran province, striving to execute this initiative effectively.

He further explained that the Fouladi Show event encompasses B2B sessions as well as demoday sessions for planning and implementation, creating an opportunity for the interaction and utilization of the capacities of idea owners, companies, and experts, while providing an opportunity for investors to address operational needs.

Dr. Asadi also announced the introduction of the Investor and Recipient Network, stating that the University of Tehran Science and Technology Park has presented an idea to develop a network for investors and recipients of capital, which is under completion. This network will enable investors to deploy their capital in various fields for the development and prosperity of knowledge-based companies and the technology and innovation ecosystem. Similarly, individuals with valuable and internationally competitive ideas and thoughts requiring capital can be supported through this network.

He emphasized the necessity of establishing such an investment and capital network in today’s global developments, stating that various industries, particularly the steel industry, which face a variety of issues related to the environment, water, energy, water scarcity, water circulation, waste, etc., can reap the benefits of this network and its interactions.

Dr. Yahya Palizdar, the CEO of the Mobarakeh Steel Development and Innovation Support Company, outlined the activities of the company, indicating that Mobarakeh Steel encompasses 40 to 45 percent of the country’s steel industry and operates extensively across various regions in the country. He described their activities as high-risk capital investment in the value creation chain of steel.

He also mentioned the company’s pioneership in promoting localized content and its current reliance on 90% domestic sourcing.

Furthermore, he discussed the future of Mobarakeh Steel, stating that they work with over 5000-6000 billion Tomans annually with more than 1000 knowledge-based companies as part of the national technology and innovation ecosystem network. He highlighted that changing industry landscapes require harmonization with global developments and proposed opening the steel industry for the open innovation paradigm to compete with international rivals.

In the margin of this event, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Mobarakeh Steel Development and Innovation Support Company and the University of Tehran Science and Technology Park. This memorandum aims to contribute to the establishment and development of high-value-added public and specialized services businesses, attracting investment, and facilitating the entry of entrepreneurs and industrial units into domestic and global markets.

Also, during the event, a specialized panel was presented on the overarching trends in the steel industry, providing knowledge of the needs and investment processes of the Mobarakeh Steel Group for enhancing technological plans and operations.

It is worth mentioning that during the Fouladi Show call, 100 innovators registered and 14 relevant proposals were received, ten of which were selected for presentation at demoday and investor engagement.