Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Top IIID’s Strategic Agenda

The Vice President for Scientific, Technological, and Knowledge-Based Economy Affairs has identified pharmaceuticals and biotechnology as priority sectors for Iran’s innovation policy, citing the country’s regional medical leadership and critical domestic needs.

At the opening ceremony of the Behestan Biopharmaceutical Complex in the Iran International Innovation District (IIID), Hossein Afshin highlighted the district’s role as a leading technology hub whose strong performance in 2024, including growth in exports, revenue, and investment, serves as a benchmark for other parks nationwide.

Afshin outlined plans to develop major knowledge-based enterprises and “unicorn” companies capable of generating USD 1 billion in annual revenue, leveraging IIID’s value chain platform to help companies scale beyond individual efforts. He noted that marketing remains a weakness for many high-tech firms, and IIID is designed to bridge this gap by providing a “launchpad” for commercializing innovative products.

Reaffirming pharmaceuticals and biotechnology as strategic priorities under Article 99 of the national development plan, Afshin emphasized both the global competitiveness of Iranian medicine and the country’s urgent need for advancements in these sectors. He cited success in producing therapeutic antibodies and establishing complete production chains for such innovations.

Afshin also announced the allocation of IRR 50 trillion (approximately USD 1 billion) from the Iran National Innovation Fund (INIF), the Vice Presidency, and the national budget organization for plasma-derived medicines. He stressed that the focus will remain on completing production chains and preventing raw material exports to maximize domestic value creation.