TEHRAN, Aug. 15 (MNA) � Iran�s vice president for science and technology has said the government would offer tax exemption to knowledge-based organizations this year.In a�meeting with Mazandaran�s�businessmen and entrepreneurs, Sorena Sattari announced that till the end of the current Iranian year�the goverenment will provide tax relief for 1500 knowldege-based firms.��

Emphasizing the ineffectiveness of oil-based economy, Sattari said that �economic development will be impossible as long as we follow this policy.�

He considered Knowledge as superior to wealth and mentioned that, �any knowledge able to raise revenue is supported and the government should invest more in research areas than in commercialization.�

Stressing the importance of human resources in knowledge-based economy, Sattari said that, �human resources will be appreciated more if we acknowledge their vital role in the country�s economy.�

Mentioning that 60% of knowledge-based companies are start-ups, he said that, �1600 of these companies have sold for more than 180 bn dollars."

Vice�President for Science and Technology further announced the formation of �Innovation and Prosperity Fund� with the purpose of supporting knowledge-based companies and added that, �up to this time, these companies have been provided with 480 different facilities.�

By expressing satisfaction about the performance of the Fund over the last year, Sattari concluded that if the private sector starts investing in ideas, knowledge-based thinking will replace petroleum thinking.

By Mehr News Agency