Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences: The hub for networking technology and sports startups in the country

The Deputy for Technology and Innovation of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, at the closing ceremony of the first "From Idea to Business in Sport" event, emphasized the role of the Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences in supporting startups and creating a coherent chain among the university, technology parks, and the sports industry.

Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences: The hub for networking technology and sports startups in the country

According to the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Science, quoting the Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Dr. Mohammad Nabi Shahiki, at the beginning of the ceremony, thanked the Minister of Sports and Youth and all those involved, and said: "The 'From Idea to Business in Sport' event is a valuable opportunity to turn ideas into commercial value and demonstrates the country's high capacity in the field of sports technology and innovation."

The Deputy for Technology and Innovation of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, referring to the existence of 58 science and technology parks in the country, said: "These parks are places for the growth of talented individuals and technologists who have creative and innovative ideas. One of the strategies of the Ministry of Science is to transform academic knowledge and expertise into a field that can solve the needs of society and the country's problems."

He emphasized: "Most of the activity of technology units and knowledge‑based companies is concentrated in the fields of the digital economy, advanced equipment manufacturing, and biotechnology. However, sectors related to sports, sports startups, and some cultural and humanities fields still lack sufficient working space and need development."

Dr. Shahiki continued: "To fill this gap, a national secretariat has been established, and some parks and incubators have changed their missions to specialize in the field of sports technologies. The Sports Innovation Center has been formed with the cooperation of the Institute of Physical Education and the support of the respective ministers to support startups and technologists in the sports field."

The Deputy for Technology and Innovation of the Ministry of Science said: "If we want the country's sports industry to become a fourth‑generation industry based on modern technologies such as augmented reality, data mining, and the metaverse, investment in technology and the active presence of technology and knowledge‑based units is essential. In addition to developing the domestic industry, this can also create a sustainable competitive advantage for the country."

In conclusion, thanking the Ministry of Sports and the Institute of Physical Education for their support, he expressed hope that the chain of technological and sports activities would take shape continuously and coherently, and that the ground would be laid for the sustainable development of the country's sports industry.