TEHRAN – The Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones (GASEZ) has recognized Isfahan Science, Technology Town (ISTT) as a 2023 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) model zone partner for its commitment towards sustainable development.

The 2nd GASEZ Annual Conference took place on November 9, 2023, in Barcelona, Spain, IRNA reported.

Two hundred stakeholders from the SEZ community from 26 countries across Africa, Europe, and Latin America attended the event, reiterating their support for the alliance and contributing to its work agenda.

The conference concluded with the recognition of the 2023 list of 50 SDG Model Zones that have been selected as partners on the basis of three criteria including attracting investment in SDG-related sectors; adopting environmental, social, and governance standards; and building strong linkages with the local economy.

Isfahan is the only science and technology town selected from Iran.

Other SDG model zones are from Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Canada.

Isfahan's scientific and research community is an independent organization with the goal of nurturing knowledge-based development through the establishment of growth centers in Isfahan, one of Iran’s industrial hubs.

ISTT is the first organization to establish growth centers and science and technology parks in the country.

The idea of establishing science and technology parks was taken from ISTT in the Iranian year 1380 (March 2001-2002).

ISTT provides an environment for commercializing technology and attracting domestic and foreign investment.

Its main activities include research and development facilities to link the resources and skills of universities and research and industrial centers, guidance to the scientific community on strategic research areas, planning and creating the appropriate field for the application and commercialization of research results, and creating an appropriate scientific and research space to attract scholars and specialists both at home and abroad, as well as strategies for the effective transfer of knowledge.

With a share of more than 9 percent of all knowledge-based companies, it ranks second in the country.

Currently,  ISTT is one of the largest industrial estates for knowledge-based companies in Iran, with about 700 firms and some 9,000 employees.

ISTT is home to the UNESCO Centre for Technology Incubator and Science Park Development (IRIS).

GASEZ

The global Alliance of GASEZ is dedicated to advancing a new generation of SEZs for sustainable development. The alliance was launched in Montego Bay in 2022 by the Africa Economic Zones Association of the Americas (AZFA), the Green Partnership for Industrial Parks of China (GPIPC), the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP), the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones (NAFTZ), the United Nations on Trade and Development (UNTAD), the World Free and Special Economic Zones Federation (FEMOZA), and the World Free Zones Organizations (World FZO).

The GASEZ SDG model zone partnership initiatives seek to achieve three main objectives: raise awareness on contributions of SEZs to sustainable development, recognize the efforts of the zones that are leading the way in this space, and share best practices by SEZs that can serve as an inspiration and be replicable by other zones.

MT/MG