This report is a deep dive into Iran’s innovation ecosystem and aims to provide a blueprint for data-driven decision-making on potential entry points for UNDP’s innovative interventions/programmes in the country.

The report provides a holistic view on innovation context in Iran, starting with an overview of the country’s innovation infrastructure and its place in the global innovation map, followed by the existing governmental support for Iranian startups, as one of the main players in Iran’s innovation ecosystem.

It illustrates the socio-economic characteristics of startups, the demography of startup support centers including; incubators, accelerators, venture capitals, and science and technology parks, in addition to the effect and impact of sanctions on Iran’s innovation ecosystem.