The Fifth National Petrofan Conference has started with the goal of evaluating knowledge-based and technology companies, synergizing the industry and the country's innovation ecosystem, and presenting the technological needs of the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company at the Khorasan Science and Technology Park. This conference will take place on November 25 and 26, 2023, in Razavi Khorasan province as the first stop of a total of eight regional events.
Conference Held in 8 Provincial Hubs
In this event, knowledge-based and technology companies have declared their readiness in response to the needs announced by the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company to address technological challenges and needs. Over these two days, their capabilities will be evaluated. This conference will be held regionally in eight provincial hubs, including Golestan, North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, and Sistan and Baluchestan. Subsequently, the event will also be held in Bushehr, Fars, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, East Azerbaijan, and Isfahan provinces.
Analysis of Challenges and Technological Needs
Fouzieh Marvat, the Strategy and Infrastructure Manager for Product Development, Technology, and Innovation at the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Group, announced at the opening of the conference that despite the country's knowledge potential, there is still a significant gap between industry needs and the existing knowledge space. She added: "We established Petrofan because we saw a considerable distance between the actual needs of the industry and the knowledge capabilities of the country, and we needed to prepare a platform to connect these two valuable entities."
Marvat also referred to the assessment of needs in specialized areas such as electricity and instrumentation, fixed and rotating equipment, process technical knowledge, and product development, stating: "Last year, we were able to sign one hundred and ten contracts worth 1.7 trillion tomans with the technology ecosystem. Our goal is not just to hold an event but to create a platform for connecting the industry and the country's innovation ecosystem."
Javad Safai, the head of the Khorasan Razavi Science and Technology Park, also mentioned the activity of 80 companies in the oil and gas sector in this park and stated that currently about 700 knowledge-based and technology companies are active in the Khorasan Razavi Park. He emphasized: "If we want good things to happen for our country and stand on our own feet in certain areas, we have no choice but to trust the youth."
Seyyed Mousa Sayyadi, the manager of energy technology units at the Khorasan Razavi Science and Technology Park, also pointed to the existing capacities in the field of knowledge-based companies and called for an increase in interaction with these companies. He stated: "I hope this event will provide sufficient recognition of the capacities of knowledge-based and technology companies. We are aware of the risks that the petrochemical industry faces, and if logical interaction is established, I am sure that technology companies can make us proud."
This national event, alongside evaluating the capabilities of the participating companies, also provided an opportunity to visit the exhibition of products and technological achievements of 51 knowledge-based companies. The Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Group also visited 6 selected companies in the Khorasan Razavi Science and Technology Park. Ultimately, the winners of this event will be invited to participate in a closing ceremony that will be held in February in Tehran.
