Innovation; base of new urban economy

Innovate or die! This slogan is an undeniable slogan facing with many industries, services, and products in cities. The importance of this issue becomes clear when we look at it economically. This issue is influenced politically, economically, socially, and environmentally. These factors are limiting as well as creating opportunity.    

Therefore, all small and large cities require new approach to be both global and domestic-oriented as well. In the new approach to urban economy, data have key role, and products and services are knowledge-based. Modern urban economy creates new demands for skills, creativities, and specialties and it allows all pillars of the city to look for an innovative solutions.

Based on defined goals of this issue, old urban activities should be abolished and ground should be prepared for learning new skills and innovations. This is a path facing with tomorrow’s cities. ITC can be strong stimulus for passing from resource-based economy to knowledge-based one, but unfortunately, innovation that is one of the pillars of urban economy is neglected in many Asian countries and cities despite their high potential.

Evidences indicate that investment in innovation, research and development (R&D), and reliance on ITC is the solution of many problems in many developing countries and the impact of these technologies on developing countries is much more than developed ones. For instance, researches show that 10 percent increase of smart phone influence is followed by 4 percent increase in total efficiency.

In our country, R&D and innovation are emphasized highly in national documents including perspective document, sixth plan, and general policies of resistance economy, and 4 percent of R&D of GDP has been developed for 1404 horizon. However, we may consider that according to the reports of 2015, Islamic Republic is ranked in 106 among 141 countries beside countries such as Mali and Ghana that is not accepted and appropriate for us and extra effort should be made in this case.