Iranian Knowledge-based Companies Flourished During the Pandemic
The head of the National Center for National Technology Projects said: "We had no particular problems in supplying high-consumption medical equipment such as ventilators and oxygen generators at the time of the Covid-19 outbreak as the technical knowledge and production line of this technologies had already been established in the country."
Dr. Mohammad Hossein Beheshti, professor of the Polymer Research Institute and head of the National Center for Macro-Technology Projects for Science and Technology, told Sina Press: "These technologies must be supported because the new technologies can support the country's authority."
Furthermore, he stated: "Currently, we are facing oppressive economic sanctions so we must support technological and practical projects to reduce sanctions effectiveness and achieve a resilient economy through localization. " He added: "we need to rely on the capabilities of our country's experts to be self-sufficient and to reduce the adverse effects of sanctions."
He continued: "Fortunately, our country did not face any specific and serious problems in the field of medical equipment during the Coronavirus pandemic. The existence of such companies had been predicted for years, so we had no shortage of the above-said items during the time of Corona pandemic. We just needed to increase the production capacity as we were already equipped with knowledge and production lines. At first, equipment such as PCR and sampling swap were not produced domestically but we took the steps forward to support the companies that produce such equipment to eliminate the domestic requirements."
He told Sina Press: "During the first days of the corona outbreak, when there was a shortage on masks, we quickly took action and supported the producing companies to increase their mask production. Gladly, today, we have no issue in this regard."
He also stated that "there is a layer inside these masks, which was not available enough in the country before. This issue also has been looked after and as a result, there is no problem today."
At last, he added: " CT scanners are very expensive devices used to diagnose Covid-19. Therefore, the Vice President for Science and Technology supported the local manufacturing companies to produce this device, and soon it will reach the mass production stage.
"Many of our identified demands will be supplied if we fund the prioritized projects needed by the country and support private firms and active start-ups," said the head of the National Center for National Technology Projects.
Interview by: Farzaneh Sedghi
Translated by: Mehdi Fallahi Panah
