Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem at University of Birjand

The Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem at University of Birjand has begun its mission to become a skill-oriented and entrepreneurial university by establishing and supporting three main entities: the Innovation and Acceleration Center, the Skills and Career Counseling Center, and the Employment and Entrepreneurship Unit. The goal of establishing this ecosystem is to create an environment with a special focus on the creation and development of sustainable innovation. By concentrating on education and fostering a space for open innovation, it aims to support startup teams and advance the knowledge-based economy.
Within the Innovation Center’s co-working space, innovative teams will work to realize their dreams and create value by collaborating with research centers and companies seeking new products and services across diverse specialized fields.
In recent years, the number of university graduates has significantly increased, and the most significant challenge they face is a lack of sufficient skills for employability and entrepreneurship. Recognizing the need to provide students and graduates with skills demanded by the job market, the Skills and Career Counseling Center was launched. This was established through a joint collaboration between the university and the provincial branch of the Technical and Vocational Training Organization of Iran. The center's goal is to enhance students' professional skills and provide entrepreneurship training to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and improve student employability. After participating in various courses offered by the center, students will be eligible to take the official skills exam and obtain an international technical and vocational certificate.
The Employment and Entrepreneurship Center of University of Birjand officially began its activities in 2019 with the motto “Training and facilities from us, work and income from you”. It operates under the direct supervision of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology with a focus on providing financial and non-financial support for innovative business plans and ideas at University of Birjand.
This center is a crucial part of the university’s innovation ecosystem. Its core idea is to create employment for students who, alongside their academic and specialized education, wish to earn an income by learning practical skills in various technical and artistic fields. Therefore, the center's primary responsibility is to create a platform for income-generating businesses that can provide students with short-term skills training, leading to viable employment opportunities. The center also actively supports student ideas for launching profitable businesses and provides them with significant resources and facilities. The physical expansion of the Employment and Entrepreneurship Center is underway this year with the construction of its new building (located opposite the men's central dining hall). With four workshops and office space, this building will help attract more interested students and further realize the center’s objectives.

Mission of the Innovation and Acceleration Center

• Promoting and developing a culture of innovation that meets societal needs.
• Helping to stimulate the local technology-based economy.
• Supporting the formation and growth of knowledge-based companies.
• Building connections between the university, industry, and government, and securing financial and non-financial capital.
• Forming and developing sustainable research teams and groups.
• Creating a platform for the establishment, expansion, and growth of startups and new knowledge-based businesses.
• Developing a cooperation network between research sectors and the business environment.
• Reducing the initial risks for innovative and knowledge-based companies as they start their operations.

Contact
Hooriyeh Shirazi

• Specialist in Entrepreneurship and Industry-Community Relations
• 056-32202123

Zohreh Alizadeh

• Portal Specialist, Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
• 056-32202215