Specialized Artificial Intelligence Park to be Launched in Iran, Deputy Minister of Science Announces

Tehran - BORNA - Mohammad Nabi Shahiki Tash, the Deputy Minister of Science for Technology and Innovation, announced that a specialized Artificial Intelligence (AI) Park is currently in the process of receiving its operational license in Iran. He underscored the strategic role of AI in steering the technology ecosystem in the current "Age of Algorithms."

Shahiki made these remarks at a two-day conference on "Applications of Artificial Intelligence in the Future of Knowledge-Based and Technological Businesses," held in Tehran and hosted by the Sharif University of Technology Science and Technology Park. The event aimed to raise general awareness and strengthen planning among the nation's science and technology parks, prioritizing the integration of AI.

AI as a Strategic Variable

The Deputy Minister emphasized that the role of AI has transcended that of a mere complementary technology, becoming a strategic variable in the governance structure of science, technology, and innovation.

Shahiki Tash added: "In the new era, referred to as the Age of Algorithms, the role of AI has gone beyond being a supplementary technology and has transformed into a strategic variable in the structure of science, technology, and innovation governance. Therefore, the strategy of technology parks should no longer be solely limited to developing technical infrastructure or procuring GPUs."

He stressed that focusing only on infrastructure without fundamentally rearranging managerial and procedural systems only achieves a superficial layer of transformation, failing to realize deeper advantages.

The New Role of Technology Parks

Shahiki Tash clarified that science and technology parks cannot become major players in the knowledge economy simply by possessing data centers or computing equipment.

He stated: "The application of AI lies in the growth and maturation pathway of technological units. This includes developing smart tools for market analysis, accelerating R&D processes, project management, business validation, and empowering startups across various stages of their life cycle. Consequently, parks will be elevated from their traditional role as business hosts to the status of smart co-developers."

Need for Organizational Restructuring and Efficiency

The official called for a fundamental review of the organizational structure of science and technology parks to integrate AI capacity into the core of decision-making and management.

• Structural Change: New units such as an Office of Digital Transformation, Data Architecture, Smart Company Assessment Unit, or Center for Algorithm Governance are necessary as pillars of organizational change.

• Reduced Friction: AI utilization is essential to reduce administrative friction in interacting with member companies. He noted that leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs), intelligent decision-support systems, smart document processing, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can automate large parts of time-consuming processes—from application assessment to licensing and periodic reporting—thereby increasing transparency, speed, and trust in the parks' support system.

AI: The New Architect of Transformation

Shahiki Tash concluded by emphasizing the historical shift facing technology parks: Mohammad Nabi Shahiki: "Artificial Intelligence is not just a tool; it is the new architect of organizations in the Age of Algorithms. If parks can move away from solely focusing on infrastructure and instead direct their approach toward developing structural, procedural, and strategic capabilities, they will transform from traditional supportive entities into the anchor point for digital transformation and the growth of the knowledge-based economy."

The two-day conference also featured workshops and specialized panels on topics including future studies and strategy, innovation, AI project lifecycles, and practical AI tools. The second day included the presentation of the Ministry of Science's Human Resources Planning Document for science and technology parks.

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