Statements in Meeting with a Group of Researchers and Officials of Knowledge-Based Companies

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

First of all, welcome dear friends, brothers, sisters, and officials. I hope that this meeting and similar sessions can help address the fundamental need that our country has today, which is the development of knowledge, research, technology, and nurturing talents, and the increasing flow of the products of our nation's outstanding talents into the lives of the people in the country.

Today's meeting was formed with the aim of strengthening knowledge-based companies and, in general, innovation in knowledge and technology, and enhancing the entry of these companies' products into the market and consumption. Well, friends have expressed very good points. Fortunately, officials are present in the meeting and have heard the suggestions. Of course, those who spoke in the form of suggestions also raised some grievances that I believe are justified. The grievances are valid; addressing them will also be based on these suggestions. Well, the officials are present here; the esteemed Vice President and some ministers related to these issues, as well as some other officials, are in the meeting and have heard the points. What was said in this meeting, God willing, and with divine assistance, will be summarized and followed up. Of course, expectations were also raised from the leadership apparatus, which we will, God willing, pursue all of them; whether those things related to government and executive bodies - which we must emphasize - or those things that are somehow related to the leadership apparatus itself. God willing, we will follow these up. Of course, I have noted some examples of the suggestions and expectations that friends raised here; which I believe are mostly valid expectations, and we hope, God willing, that they will be addressed. I will also refer to some of these suggestions and expectations.

What we insist on and emphasize is that knowledge for the country is an endless and inexhaustible asset. If the cycle of knowledge production in a country is set in motion, if there is talent and it is activated, if capacities begin to emerge, then this becomes an inexhaustible source. Knowledge is an endogenous phenomenon; it is not something that a person must necessarily depend on. Yes, if you want to take ready-made knowledge, that is the case; it has dependencies, needs, and requires reaching out; but after a scientific foundation is established in a country, and talent exists in that country, then it takes on the state of bubbling springs. If we pursue research and knowledge deeply and diligently, if this issue is taken seriously in the country as it has been for several years, and is pursued with the same momentum, indeed with more motivation and greater commitment, without a doubt, the country will reach a peak.

Considering the realities that we observe and are before our eyes, this ascent, this reaching of the desired elevation and progress, is by no means fanciful; it is realistic; the experience of these past few years shows the same. In the statistics that were provided, you noticed that the country's progress in important sectors and new and effective knowledge in life has been significant over a few years; this indicates that there is talent, capacity, and readiness. We must take this issue seriously; that is, we must give importance to the issue of knowledge and reliance on knowledge in the country; that is, we must make this the foundation of our work. Our message in these past few years has been the same. If knowledge is taken seriously in various sectors, then these knowledge-based companies that operate based on knowledge, produce, and create wealth will gradually be able to bring the country's economy to real prosperity.

Gaining wealth through the sale of finite resources like oil and similar products is not prosperity; it is not progress; it is self-deception. We have fallen into this trap. We must admit, accept that this is a trap for our nation. We have become victims of raw material sales. A reality has been inherited for us, and the country has become accustomed to it. Of course, in these years, efforts have been made to somewhat set aside this harmful addiction for the country, but it has not been completely achieved. We must first believe that the country should reach a point where it can, at will, close its oil wells whenever it desires; we must come to this belief. This is now the issue of oil. Raw material sales in various sectors of raw and mineral materials still exist; and this is one of our weaknesses, one of our problems. If we want to escape from this situation, if we want to achieve true economic growth, the way is to rely on knowledge; this is also practical through strengthening these knowledge-based companies. We must move in this direction.

Of course, the work that has been done is valuable work. The report that the esteemed Vice President provided - which I have relatively complete information about what has been done, previously received in written reports - is very encouraging; it indicates that our agencies, thanks be to God, are making good efforts in this area; however, we must identify weaknesses in various sectors and strive to address these weaknesses. If we can, God willing, advance the foundation of economic activities based on knowledge and make it the dominant aspect of the country's economy, this will not only give the country economic power but also political and cultural power. When a country feels that it can manage its life and serve other nations with its own knowledge, it feels a sense of identity, it feels a sense of personality; this is exactly what the Muslim nations need today.

Our nation, before the revolution, was for many years captive to the weakening of self-confidence among itself. From the time when the first government officials, and gradually the masses of people opened their eyes and were astonished in the face of the stunning scientific progress of the West, gradually feelings of deficiency, feelings of inferiority, feelings of self-deprecation were propagated in this country and among our nation. Fortunately, the revolution transformed everything; including this state and this spirit. Therefore, establishing economic activities based on knowledge not only strengthens the spirit and character and national identity but also provides political power. Independence and self-sufficiency in a country provide political power; in addition to the economic power that is natural and exists.

What we want, God willing, to be derived from this meeting is generally two things: one is to encourage the elites and the distinguished and the scholars and researchers to move towards forming these companies and also to bring the products of these companies and these researches to the market and make them accessible to the people and integrate them into the trade cycle. This is our first goal. Of course, the synergy of knowledge and wealth and assets is the basic definition of these companies. Therefore, scholars and those who are engaged in financial investments should strive to increase these companies. Now it has been said that by the end of the program, twenty thousand companies will be formed; however, my impression is that we should pay more attention to the number of knowledge-based companies in the country. Of course, both quantity and quality should be considered; and now the issue of quality is another matter.

The second goal is that the problems of these companies, God willing, should be resolved. There are problems - there is a liquidity problem, there are various spiritual support issues; which existed in these suggestions - the government can address these problems. The same sectors that are related to this issue; whether the esteemed Vice Presidency, or the esteemed ministries of industries, sciences, health and treatment, and agricultural jihad, and ministries that are related to these matters can cooperate, share responsibilities, determine the duties of each sector, and resolve the problems. Among the things that were mentioned here and I believe are correct is that these old traditional credit assessment systems, especially from banks and monetary centers, should change their perspective towards these companies. The liquidity problem is a significant issue for these companies.

Among the things that were mentioned - which we believe is also correct - is the issue of risk-taking in these companies; because if there is no risk-taking in these companies and there is no readiness to face risks, the work will not progress. Of course, there are ways to ensure that the losses from these risks do not threaten the very existence of these companies; such as specific and designated insurances that should be anticipated for this work; which is also the responsibility of the government agencies.

An important issue is that our government agencies should monitor inventions and patent registrations and proactively approach the inventors and intellectual elites and ask them to cooperate, to help, so that they can participate in creating a knowledge-based company in the relevant sector. Our agencies should not wait for inventors to approach them, and the work should not get caught up in administrative complexities and bureaucratic problems that exist; these will certainly weaken enthusiasm and talents. As far as I have reports, foreigners are monitoring the existing talents in our country; wherever it suits them, they come, invest, and take them away. Well, human talent, human power, is the most valuable asset of a country.

We must not allow, we must not let, "not allowing" also logically means that we should prepare the ground, encourage, support, and compel them to enter the field, to become engaged, to feel encouraged; then in that case, this will be the bubbling spring of inexhaustibility that will emerge.

Among the points that were mentioned and are correct is the implementation of the law supporting knowledge-based companies, which has been approved for two or three years. The government submitted a bill, and the parliament also approved it. Of course, its executive bylaw has not yet been approved or communicated; this work must be done quickly. God willing, the government officials present here should follow this up. For this work, some funds have also been allocated, and a fund has been approved and prepared. If, God willing, that law comes into effect, it will certainly help the progress and development of knowledge-based companies.

Another point that was mentioned - which was also in my mind and was noted in the reports given to us - is that in financial assistance and support, state companies should not take a larger share so that the private sector and non-governmental companies do not remain behind. Here too, I saw some friends made this reminder; this point has also been noted in our reports. We should ensure that the private sector can stand on its own feet and grow in the field of knowledge-based companies in the true sense of the word. If the private sector grows in this area, we believe its benefits for the country will be very significant. The government will play its supportive, guiding, and assisting role; however, in the field, the private sector will be the main driver. This is also one of the points that is being emphasized.

One of the important things that exists is the information bank. One of the benefits of this meeting is that people come and provide information to a group of elites and distinguished individuals and officials; this work should become widespread. There should be an information bank; we should know our assets, and we should also know our needs; especially some of the government sectors that were mentioned here - such as oil, defense, agriculture - have very significant needs; that if these needs are made known to the founders of knowledge-based companies, those who are ready for scientific and financial investments can come and address these needs. Therefore, establishing an information bank and making necessary information available to all is very essential.

Another point is that knowledge-based companies can become active in various sectors of the country; they should not be limited to a few sectors; in all areas where there is a need, these talents should be utilized, and God willing, these companies can play a role.

What I want to briefly express at the end of my remarks is that both universities, government agencies, and the masses of people who fortunately have the ability and talent for this work, whether in terms of knowledge or financial capabilities, must strive to recognize their responsibility in this sensitive historical period and act accordingly. What we have said about "resilient economy" is not a slogan; it is a reality. The country is progressing. We see very high and promising horizons ahead of us. Well, it is obvious that moving towards these horizons has oppositions and challenges. Some of these oppositions have economic motivations, some have political motivations; some are regional, some are international. These oppositions sometimes lead to the various pressures you observe; political pressures, sanctions, non-sanctions, propaganda pressures - these exist - but amidst these problems, amidst these thorns, there are also steadfast steps and determinations that are meant to pass through these thorns and reach the desired point; the situation of the country is like this now.

We are in no way at a dead end; we are not facing problems that would prevent us from deciding to continue on our path; such problems do not exist. Yes, there are problems; but all these problems are smaller than the determination, will, and goals and ideals of this nation and this country. We do not want to sleep in a soft and comfortable bed and lean back and rest; no, we are in the middle of the field; however, this field is a difficult one and at the same time inspiring; like a sports field and sports competitions. In sports competitions, there is fatigue, there is anxiety, but it is inspiring. No athlete refrains from being present in a sports competition; rather, they go there with enthusiasm. This work also has effort - physical pressure, mental pressure - yet athletes go. Our situation is like this.

The field is the field of public and enduring historical movement of the nation. Historically, our movement today is a lasting movement. That is, the fate of Iran is being determined today by our nation, perhaps for centuries to come. Such a situation does not always arise; it does not occur in all historical periods; fortunately, it has arisen in our time. This revolution has placed the country and the nation in the midst of a long-lasting and effective historical movement.

Well, we must each recognize our role and fulfill it. One of our sectors is the economy, and the characteristic of the economy in such conditions is a resilient economy; that is, an economy that is accompanied by resistance against the enemy's sabotage, the malice of the enemy; the enemies that we have. In my opinion, one of the important sectors that can sustain this resilient economy is your work; these knowledge-based companies; this is one of the best manifestations and one of the most effective components of a resilient economy; this must be pursued.

The future, God willing, is a bright future. We hope that the Almighty God grants success to all of you; to our esteemed and dear officials, God willing, grants them success so that they can fulfill their roles; you also fulfill your roles, and the suggestions that were raised here, God willing, will all be realized and acted upon. Most of these suggestions are good suggestions; God willing, these suggestions will be reviewed and acted upon. We ask the Almighty God for the success of all of you, and we hope that the future of the Iranian nation will be much better than today and yesterday.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.