Supervision and evaluation regulations of the Science and Technology Park of Qom Province

Introduction:

The Science and Technology Park is established as an effective socio-economic institution in the development of technology and, consequently, the development of a knowledge-based economy and specialized job creation for the establishment and professional presence of small and medium-sized technology companies, R&D units of industries, and research institutes that are engaged in technological activities in constructive interaction with each other and with other actors in the innovation ecosystem. Every core, technology unit, or technology unit member of Institutional Affairs must be under the supervision of the Park from the time of establishment until the exit stage, and their activities must be evaluated. Qom Province Science and Technology Park has structures including the Innovation Center, the Incubator (Growth Center), and Institutional Affairs. The innovative core is located in the Innovation Center, the technology core and technology unit are located in the Incubator, and the technology unit member of Institutional Affairs is located in the Institutional Affairs department. Targeted and effective support from the subordinate centers for cores and technology units in order to advance the core idea and plan requires the existence of a regular and codified structure in the process of continuous and periodic monitoring and evaluation, also based on specific and standard indicators.

Article 1 - Definitions:

1-1 Subordinate Centers: Refers to Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centers, Incubators (Growth Centers), Institutional Affairs, and other joint centers.

1-2 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center: Refers to the “Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center subordinate to the Park”; the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center is one of the main pillars of the innovation ecosystem, considered one of the first links in the innovation and entrepreneurship chain. While identifying and attracting technological ideas, it promotes culture, education, skill training, empowerment in the field of entrepreneurship, and career guidance in the form of employment schools and other programs.

1-3 Incubator (Growth Center): Refers to the “Incubator subordinate to the Park”; it refers to the Incubator of technology units affiliated with the Park. This center is established to support and provide support services for the creation and development of nascent or newly established technology units by applicants with economic, social, and environmental goals in technological and innovative fields.

1-4 Technology Unit Member of the Park: A company, institute, R&D unit, or other legal entities accepted in the Institutional Affairs and Marketing of the Park, which is at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 and 9.

1-5 Preliminary Growth Period: A period of 6 months during which talented individuals or groups with innovative ideas receive necessary counseling and training to familiarize themselves with the business environment, consolidate the business idea, and create an independent legal personality. In case of success in this period and the creation of an independent legal personality (registration of the relevant institute or company), nascent units can apply for establishment in the Growth Period of the center. An accepted member in the Preliminary Growth Period of the Incubator, who is at TRL 1 and 2 and lacks a legal personality, is called a Technology Core.

1-6 Growth Period: The Growth Period is a 3-year period during which a nascent company/institute, with a suitable team and capability by pursuing and developing its technological plan, acquires the necessary abilities for an active presence in the market and presenting its products to the market according to a developed business plan, and finally transforms into an active and successful economic entity. This period can be extended up to 5 years with the approval of the Center Manager and the Center’s Admission Council. An accepted member in the Growth Period of the Incubator, who is at TRL 4 to 7 and has a legal personality, is called a Technology Unit.

1-7 Monitoring and Evaluation: A process during which the progress of the activities of the technology core, technology unit, and technology unit member of the Park is carried out in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses and also to more effectively plan the support policies of the center.

Article 2 - Objectives of Monitoring and Evaluation

2-1 Evaluating and recording the growth and promotion trend of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park

2-2 Determining the status of continued presence/contract renewal of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park

2-3 Documenting the activities and achievements of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park

2-4 Identifying the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and threats of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit and determining strategy and operational plans based on strategic analysis (SWOT) of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park

2-5 Identifying top technology units and allocating incentive points to them

Article 3 - Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group

The members of the Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group are:

3-1 Vice President for Technology and Innovation of the Park

3-2 Manager of the Subordinate Center

3-3 Expert of the Subordinate Center

3-4 One person from the Vice Presidency for Development and Resource Management

Article 4 - Monitoring and Evaluation Process for Innovative Core

4-1 Sending the activity progress report worksheet to the innovative core (Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center)

4-2 Completing the activity progress report worksheet and sending it to the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (Innovative Core)

4-3 Reviewing the submitted documents and holding a monitoring and evaluation meeting (Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center)

4-4 Completing the monitoring and evaluation worksheets (Members of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee)

4-5 Summarizing, preparing the minutes, and sending the approvals via official correspondence to the innovative core (Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center)

Article 5 - Monitoring and Evaluation Process for Technology Core

5-1 Sending the activity progress report worksheet to the technology core (Incubator)

5-2 Completing the activity progress report worksheet and sending it to the Incubator (Technology Core)

5-3 Reviewing the submitted documents and holding a monitoring and evaluation meeting (Incubator)

5-4 Completing the monitoring and evaluation worksheets (Members of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee)

5-5 Summarizing, preparing the minutes, and sending the approvals via official correspondence to the technology core (Incubator)

Article 6 - Monitoring and Evaluation Process for Technology Unit

6-1 Sending the activity progress report worksheet to the technology unit (Incubator)

6-2 Completing the activity progress report worksheet and sending it to the Incubator (Technology Unit)

6-3 Reviewing the submitted documents and holding a monitoring and evaluation meeting (Incubator)

6-4 Completing the monitoring and evaluation worksheets (Members of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee)

6-5 Summarizing, preparing the minutes, and sending the approvals via official correspondence to the technology unit (Incubator)

Article 7 - Monitoring and Evaluation Process for Technology Unit Member of the Park

7-1 Sending the activity progress report worksheet to the technology unit member of the Park (Institutional Affairs)

7-2 Completing the activity progress report worksheet and sending it to Institutional Affairs (Technology Unit Member of the Park)

7-3 Reviewing the submitted documents and holding a monitoring and evaluation meeting (Institutional Affairs)

7-4 Completing the monitoring and evaluation worksheets (Members of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee)

7-5 Summarizing, preparing the minutes, and sending the approvals via official correspondence to the technology unit member of the Park (Institutional Affairs)

Article 8 - Time of Implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Process

8-1 Monitoring and evaluation of innovative cores is conducted every 3 months. The monitoring and evaluation process begins two weeks before the quarterly deadline.

8-2 Monitoring and evaluation of technology cores occurs 4 months after the conclusion of their contract. The monitoring and evaluation process begins two weeks before the quarterly deadline.

Note 1: The maximum period for the Preliminary Growth Period is 6 months and is non-extendable.

8-3 Monitoring and evaluation of technology units is conducted every 6 months. The monitoring and evaluation process begins two weeks before the six-monthly deadline.

8-4 Monitoring and evaluation of a technology unit member of the Park is conducted once a year.

Article 9 - Results of Monitoring and Evaluation

9-1 If a score of less than 50 is obtained in the monitoring and evaluation process, the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park will face a written warning.

9-2 If a score between 51 and 70 is obtained in the monitoring and evaluation process, the continued activity of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park in the subordinate centers is conditional on rectifying deficiencies and implementing the approvals.

9-3 If a score between 71 and 100 is obtained in the monitoring and evaluation process, the activity of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park is approved by the subordinate centers.

Note 2: Receiving two consecutive written warnings from the subordinate centers during the establishment period of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park will result in membership revocation.

Note 3: Receiving three intermittent warnings from the subordinate centers during the establishment period of the innovative core/technology core/technology unit/technology unit member of the Park will result in membership revocation.

Note 4: If a score of more than 80 is obtained in the monitoring and evaluation process, the technology core with a separate establishment space, technology unit, or technology unit member of the Park is eligible to receive an increase in the non-refundable support for rental fees (from 0.5 to 10 percent).

Article 10 - Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators for Innovative Core

Article 11 - Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators for Technology Core

Article 12 - Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators for Technology Unit

Article 13 - Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators for Technology Unit Member of Institutional Affairs

This regulation, consisting of 13 articles and 4 notes, was approved by the Scientific and Technology Council of the Park on 30/10/1402 and is enforceable from the date of notification by the President of the Park.