FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Introduction

1- What is a Technology Park?
Technology Park is a high quality location for private research units or those affiliated to larger organizations or industries so that they can conduct innovation and creativity. They are privileged withmajor resources such as intellectual capital, adequate infrastructure and leading policies and can help lead interaction, technology development and economic growth.

2- What is an incubator?
Incubators are centers for reducing the high risks of start-up companies. What is meant by a start-up company is a company that has low risk with good financial resources. These centers have joint facilities, counseling, training and backup services provided mainly by government sector for entrepreneurs. In other words, these centers try to support the start-up companies both financially and intellectually so that they could ultimately reach commercialization stage and enter job creation stage.

3- What is the difference between parks and incubators?

Type of work	Parks	Incubators
Types of located Companies	Embedded with good records	Start-ups
Physical appearance	Land from 5 to a few thousand acres	Building 500 to few thousand sq m
Type of activity	Engineering designing, R&D	Transform idea to product
Level of public services	at urban scale: sports, recreation	At building scale: Meeting room, type and printing room
Type of Special services	Counseling on technology transfer, Foreign and local Investment, financing, export and imports, training, lab work, engineering and technical, legal affairs	Counseling for company registration, accounting, contracts and etc.
Types of laboratory	Special and intra companies	General for all members
Subsidy	With low subsidy	With high subsidy
Location	Rural areas	Urban areas besides universities and inside parks
Investment	Large: equal to a town	Small: equal to a building

 

4- What is the legal and organizational mechanism of Pardis Technology Park (PTP)?
The founding organization: Presidential Office/ Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology
- Park’s foundations: Board of Trustees: headed by the First Deputy of President and Vice-President for Science and Technology, The secretary of the board is the president of PTP and there are 6 legal entities as members of the board such as Deputy Minister for science, research and technology, Deputy president for planning and strategic monitoring, ministry of Oil, President of Center for innovation and Technology Cooperation, President of Investment Organization and President of Sharif Industrial University and 4-6 other real individuals
1)President of PTP
2)The Council of PTP

5- What are the goals of Pardis Technology Park (PTP)?

• promote cooperation between industries, universities and research centers
• Commercialization of know-how and innovation
• Increase the competitiveness ability of hi-tech industries
• Attract foreign investment on hi-tech
• Speed up the technology transfer process
• Establishment of an area to investigate and provide technological capabilities (i.e. Techmart)

 

 

 

 

6- What are the incentives in PTP?

There are several incentives for companies locating at PTP such as:

• Tax Exemption for 20 years.
•  Annual functioning exemption
• Research and engineering contracts exemption
• Salary payment tax exemption
• Customs’ clearance duty commercial and exportation exemption
• Labor law similar to free trade zones
• Financial exchanges similar to free trade zones
• 
  

 

7- How does financial exchange work between PTP and the outside?
The expansion of currency exchange between PTP and foreign entities through technology centers located at PTP is possible through bank network authorized by the board of trustees of PTP and the Central Bank is bound to provide the grounds for implementing it. Technology centers can attempt the import and export of commodities and services within the framework of missions and laws of export and import.

 

8- What are the customs services offered at PTP?
By locating a customs’ officers at PTP all services such as maintenance, receive and dispatch of commodities and also all works related to exports of commodities took place at PTP. But because of lack of enthusiasm from companies, these services are not available right now.

9- Would Park help to receive research projects for the member companies?
Regarding the fact that a number of these companies have become members of PTP for research projects such contracts can be negotiated through parks.
PTP usually signs its contracts with low capital through New Technology development Fund (with warranty from Ministry of Science, Research and Technology).

10 – Does PTP have specialized and general laboratories and workshops?
Currently PTP headquarter has no specialized laboratory but there are programs under way. Laboratory services are offered now through located companies in the areas of nanotechnology, chemistry and calibrations (laboratory hyperlink exiting in PTP).

11- When taking part in local and foreign exhibitions what services are offered to the located companies?
The member companies of Pardis Technology Park can benefit from PTP’s support within the statute of the Park. For more information please contact the international relations department.

12- What are the development facilities at PTP?

Underground installation tunnel

• Electricity provided from two streams
•  Drinkable water
• ICT center attached to optic fiber network
• ADSL and wireless internet
• ewage systems
• Gas system (operated since 2011)

 

 

13- Who is responsible for providing water, gas and electricity of PTP?
PTP is responsible for constructing the infrastructures but the payment is borne by the companies. The companies are introduced to the different installations companies and can benefit from their services through regular payment

 

 

14- What are the internet facilities?

PTP’s Internet Infrastructure Facilities:

1)In Seraj Technology Center

• ADSL Internet Services
• Dedicated Internet Bandwidth

 

2)In Lands of the Park:

• ADSL Internet Services
• Wireless Internet Broadband Services

 

Membership

15- What type of companies can become members at PTP?

Hi tech manufacturing companies with high value added products, requiring small plot of land, not having high volume production, and production based on professional man power.

• R&D units
• R&D Centers
• Public and Private services centers: laboratories, Commercial and legal services offices, advisory and agencies welfare services…
• Noteworthy to mention is that any environmental pollutant is forbidden in PTP.

 

 

16- What are the criteria for hi-tech activities?
Some of the criteria are as follow:

• Post graduate human resource are recruited and the main part of the human resource are specialists and engineers
• Higher technology product as compared to other industries
• Adequate and clear cut budget for R&D and its expenditures should be higher than other parts of the activities
• The added value should be higher than other industries
• It can apply a technology for faster growth
•  Its advantage should be to have innovation in the product or technology services
• Its technology life cycle is longer in the early stages and it after growth stage it is shorter
• The activities and operations should be environment friendly
• New products should be made in a specific time frame

 

 

17- What parts of the activities can the companies transfer to PTP?
The companies can transfer their R&D section, designing, engineering and training. This would make more specialists enter PTP. Moreover, the production sector may also be located at the park provided their products are customized and limited and not mass produced. Of course PTP will decide on each part and the timing for submitting the permissions.

18- Can foreign companies become member of PTP?
Membership of foreign companies is allowed even in 100 %foreign share fully supported by the law, and in spite of other parts of this country, their employees could be 100% foreigners.

19- What are the different types of models for location at PTP?

·Start-up companies

Low capital with high risk of business located in Technology Incubator

·SMEs type 1

·Features of such companies: No need for a separate buildingand no financial resources for constructing separate building
·Located in the form of rental at PTP

·SMEs type 2

·Features of these types of companies: Having working experience and good financial background with several employee (more than 15)
·Purchase of land and construction of company at PTP
·They can also purchase independent flats for location

 

20- Are these two types the only types for location?
No, there is also the possibility for a company to rent a flat for location but at the same time purchase a land for construction.

 

 

21- What are the fields of activities of the member and applicant companies?
Currently there are 5 fields that companies are working in such as:

• IT and ICT
• Mechanics and automation
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Electronics
• Gas & oil & Petrochemicals
• Medical Equipment

 

It is worthwhile mentioning that for the applicants there is no restriction on the type of activity but should be of high tech (refer to question number 16). Moreover other new technologies that have not entered PTP are also in equal conditions.

22- How to apply for membership?
The applying technology unit should complete a membership form and send it with other documents to PTP’s mail address:

info@techpark.ir

23- Should they pay fee for membership through Park bank account?
Companies should pay no fee for membership and if any payment is made through bank account PTP will make no commitment for the time and mode of payment. It is noteworthy to mention that after membership contract, financial commitments will be clarified.

 

24- What is the membership process?

• Examine the documents received
• Hold interview at PTP
• Visit the company’s location and projects together with the managing director and technical staff of the company
• Prepare overall report of visiting PTP
• Prepare concluding report
• Declare result in written form
• Membership in the land area

 

25- How to transfer land (rent, purchase & …)
Transfer of land under present conditions is based on conditional contract i.e. a plot of land is sold to the company and the company is bound to construct it in a stated period of time. If it gets constructed, an official document is handed to the company in its name in conditional form. In case of full operation the official document will be handed, otherwise the contract will be null. Also the companies have no permission to rent or sell the land and can only return the land to PTP.

 

26- Will the contract document be handed to the company once contract is made?
In phase one of the land after completion and location, the property document is submitted to the company.This condition is stable and it will be included in every property transfer.

  

27- What is the area of land?
Each plot can vary from 500 to maximum 2000 sq. m. It is also possible to purchase bigger plots of land.

28- Are there any financing for companies to purchase land?
No, the company has to provide the financing.

29- What is the trend for approving the plan and structure of the building? Would the companies have to cover any expenses for that?
The architectural committee of PTP is a team responsible for examining architectural design and structures and final approval. This committee declares if there are any defects in the plan they will reconsider them. The cost of these services is upon the Park but if the contract is nulled the company is to cover all the expenses.

30- What is the purpose of establishing an architectural committee and holding their meetings?
The committee is composed of qualified architects with regular meetings inside the park responsible for supervising the trend of work plan with latest state of the art examples.

 31- How are architects’ advisors selected and introduced?

After contract the companies are bound to introduce an advisor within one month to PTP. Then the Park will attempt to introduce the person to the architectural committee for eligibility of the person. The company is not permitted to introduce an already working advisor in the Park.

32- What is a "phase three advisor”?
In order to have good supervision over the construction based on PTP’s regulations it would be necessary for the company to benefit from an advisor (preferably who works in phase one and two of the Park). This person is therefore called the "phase three advisor”.

33- How to choose a contractor?
The company is responsible for choosing a contractor and first they should be introduced to PTP and receive approval. PTP does not interfere in the implantation of the contract and the company can choose any form of contract so desires.

34- Are there regulations included from the Municipality for PTP’s development?
Any form of development inside PTP works based on the regulations of the Park and the companies are bound to receive their permission from the municipality of Pardis Town which follows the regulations of that area.

35- Were and how do companies receive their construction permit?
The companies are introduced to the Pardis municipality through PTP. The representative of the company has to refer to the municipality together with all the necessary documents including the plan. It is worthwhile to mention that companies are exempted for payment of construction permit.

36-Are companies allowed constructing conducting production activities (mass product) at PTP?
No, they are not permitted to buildsuch large spaces rather they are only allowed to build nice office buildingsfor Hi-Tech activities. More so companies are not allowed to have production activities in their buildings. Their production should be equivalent to a sample grade.

37- What happens to those companies with land whose contracts are cancelled?
Upon cancellation the land is returned to the Park after returning the payment for contract. Also if the company has built something on the land they would be priced and the amount would be returned to the owner by another company applicant.

38 What are the features for rental area of PTP Seraj Building?
In order for low income companies to locate at the rental area there is a building with limited space for rent with an area of 50 to 120 sq. m. The rent is possible for one year or maximum 3 years period provided there is an action report submitted to the Park for approval for extending the rental period.

39- What are the facilities at Seraj building?
Each unit has a restroom and a pantry with full equipment including water, gas, electricity, and the internet. They can make partitions inside the space and also there is a meeting room and a buffet that are shared.

40 – Apart from rental fee are any payments to be made?
In order to cover some of the costs, there is a fix monthly payment that the tenant has to pay. Of course there are extra fee for other services (including meeting room, the internet, debit card etc…) 

41-Are there any other buildings available for rent other than the Seraj building?
Member companies can rent away some part of their building to other members. This is possible through PTP’s regulations.

 

• Cooperation and partnership

1- How to obtain funding and investment in PTP?
After holding meeting with the applicants and receiving necessary information,ranking the type of activity anticipated will help to determine the funding procedure.

 

2-What are the different types of financing in PTP?
The main mission of PTPis to support the knowledge based activities in an integrated framework so that the trend of development would lead to commercialization of high tech activities.

3- What are the investment opportunities at PTP?
In general, these opportunities can be divided into three areas:
1) Investment on land and buildings in PTP
2) Investment in knowledge-based projects of the companies located at PTP
3) Investment in buildings and infrastructures of the future plans

4- Are there any differences between investment in the Pardis Technology Park and investment in the Industrial towns and special zone areas?
The main difference is that investment in PTP excludes productionand it can only cover the R&D section of the member companies benefiting from the existing advantages of the Park.

5- What is Venture Capital?
One helpful way for supporting entrepreneurs and innovator is to share in commercialization stage. While protects their intellectual property for their plan, it also shares in their success or failure. In this way while it can help to solve the problems associated with bank loans, it can reduce other problems related to financing,thus the VC cansubmit its share through a mechanism to the innovator.

 

6- What are the investment regulations?
The regulations are the same as for special economic zones, including investment on the land and construction the land is owned by the company provided an activity is implemented.
Other types of activity include investment on technology projects of the companies …

For more information please contact International Development Division

 

• Professional technology services

 

1-Does PTP offer special funding for receiving services?
Based on the Statute of PTP there are funding provided for receiving certain services. Only member companies can receive these funding and they differ depending on the type of location

2- Does the Professional Services Center receive charges for offering services?
The Center does not charge any feed for primary advices but agents who do offer services charge fee based on the type of project that is defined.

3-Where should applicants refer to for patent registration?
The Office of Industrial Property of the National Registration Office is in charge of registering any type of invention. The website iswww.sabt.gov.ir

4- Should we refer to Professional Services Center for Patenting?
Currently, there are offices active who undertake patenting inside or outside the country. At the Center, officers for legal services can provide services for patenting.

5- Can we benefit from the facilities of PTP for holding conferences and training courses?
Every company (member and non- member) canbenefit from the facilities existing at the Park for holding their programs provided they cover the expenses and the feelaid out for such activities. It is noteworthy to mention that the member company can enjoy a special discount for their work.