According to Novaco’s Public Relations Department, at the beginning of the ceremony, Eng. Hossein Hajian, Deputy for Strategic Planning and Investment at Ahdaf Holding, referred to Surah Al-Asr and the concept of “loss” (khusr), emphasizing the need to move beyond technological passivity, depart from traditional contracting models, and make the inevitable transition from resource-driven industries toward a knowledge-based economy, with institutions such as Novaco playing a central role. Eng. Hajian further elaborated on the transformation of the technological development path and the initiatives undertaken by the Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC) toward becoming a knowledge-based enterprise. In this context, he highlighted the company’s capacities and capabilities in executing complex offshore projects, localizing strategic equipment, and underscored the importance of leveraging the support mechanisms and incentives provided under newly enacted legislation.
Seyed Shamseddin Mousavi, Managing Director of the Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC), continued the event by referring to the 70–75% localization rate of equipment and South Pars projects at the strategic Khorramshahr Yard, stating: “The company possesses full infrastructure readiness to play a pivotal role in the national South Pars pressure-boosting megaproject.”
He further added: “Alongside this project, the extraction of helium from associated petroleum gas, the liquefaction of associated petroleum gas, desulfurization of fuel oil and production of low-sulfur marine fuel, the construction of combined heat and power plants, and the development of mobile units for producing diesel fuel from hydrocarbon waste are among other knowledge-based projects in the oil industry.”
During the meeting, Dr. Amirhossein Zarghami, CEO of Novaco and Advisor to the CEO of Ahdaf Holding for Knowledge-Based Enterprises and Innovation, presented an overview of the Innovation Ecosystem guidelines and regulations, the process and service cycle of Novaco, and its investment plans.
Referring to the need for the oil industry to make greater use of artificial intelligence, he said: “Given that AI servers are located outside the country, any use of this technology by the oil industry involves the transfer of data outside the country, creating security challenges and exposing sensitive information. Therefore, major oil and gas companies, together with knowledge-based companies, are currently developing an advanced, dedicated AI processing farm for the oil industry. This infrastructure will enable AI applications to be powered by servers located inside the country and will help prevent sensitive data from leaving the country.”
He further cited Iran’s position among the three countries possessing the technical know-how to design and manufacture offshore loading and unloading systems, including Single Point Mooring (SPM) buoys, the installation of more than 4,000 kilometers of subsea pipelines, and the construction of the platform for the shared Bilal field as clear evidence of the maturity of the country’s offshore engineering capabilities and its advancement to the technological frontier in this strategic field.
Referring to Novaco’s plans for technology development and innovative investment across Ahdaf Group, Dr. Zarghami said: “At present, a capacity of USD 300 million has been allocated to first-time production and research and development projects, which can create significant momentum in the implementation of technological projects. We need to make effective use of the existing legal capacities so that the companies within the Group can secure a larger share of industrial projects, while the technologies required by industry are developed through knowledge-based companies.”
He added: “At Novaco, we have sought to design investment models according to the scale, level of risk, technology maturity, and expected return of each project. Accordingly, projects are categorized into three levels: small, medium, and large. Small-scale optimization and R&D projects can be supported through tax credits and initiatives such as the ‘Saba’ program. At the second level, projects valued at approximately 1 to 2 trillion rials will be financed through the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) fund, subject to approval by the Innovation Council. At the third level, major investment projects, including projects worth several million dollars, will proceed following the decision-making process within the relevant bodies of Ahdaf Group and will be implemented through capital increases in the respective companies. Our objective is not to apply a single financing mechanism to all projects; rather, each project should utilize the most appropriate financing instrument based on its specific circumstances.”
Zarghami continued: “In parallel, plans have been made to allocate 2 percent of Ahdaf Holding’s investment portfolio to innovative sectors. These investments will be made gradually through technological projects, creating a sustainable flow of investment in emerging technologies across the Group. For us, the objective is not merely to obtain tax credits; rather, the aim is to ultimately transform these capacities into profitable and value-creating investments for the Group as a whole. Accordingly, we expect the implementation of these programs to result in a one-percentage-point increase in the consolidated net profit of Ahdaf Holding by the end of 2031.”
Regarding the process of connecting technology teams with the Group’s corporate capital, Zarghami said: “We connect mature technology teams with Ahdaf Holding’s CVC. Before that, however, their readiness and suitability are assessed in terms of market traction, valuation, and the degree of strategic alignment with the Holding’s needs. Following this stage, the transaction structure, investment terms, valuation, and pilot implementation are determined in order to reduce project risk, and the investment case is prepared for consideration by the Investment Committee. We then support the process through the finalization of the transaction and the initial deployment of the technology within the Group’s companies, ensuring that the relationship does not stop at the evaluation stage but ultimately leads to the actual implementation of the project.”
Zarghami also referred to the Group-wide AI computing infrastructure project and stated: “A USD 50 million project, such as the development of a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Farm, has been approved. This platform will enable subsidiaries to use shared computing capacity according to their needs or participate in its development. This infrastructure can serve as the foundation for implementing artificial intelligence projects, data analytics, advanced industrial systems, and digital transformation initiatives across the Group’s companies.”
He concluded: “With the support of the senior management of Ahdaf Group, this ecosystem has entered its operational phase. Novaco’s mission is to manage the innovation pathway in an integrated manner—from identifying challenges and needs to financing, investment, pilot implementation, and final deployment of projects. Our objective is to move technology beyond being a peripheral issue and turn it into one of the main drivers of value creation within Ahdaf Group.”
As the event continued, Eng. Monjezipour delivered a specialized presentation on the general framework of the “Knowledge-Based Production Leap Law” and elaborated on the provisions related to Article 11 concerning Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credits. Under this mechanism, expenditures incurred by companies on research, development, and innovation projects may, subject to compliance with the applicable legal framework, be recognized as tax credits. In another segment of the program, Eng. Milad Moradi, Technical Director of Novaco, presented the company’s projects in the fields of digital transformation and Industry 4.0, while Dr. Zolfagharzadeh, a member of the CVC Board of Directors, outlined foresight approaches in the field of innovation. Furthermore, Eng. Soroush Afsharpour and Eng. Fatemeh Salehi provided explanations on investment and technology-based collaboration with universities under Clauses (b) and (t) of Article 11, Article 13, investment through the Innovation and Prosperity Fund, the Etebar 14 System, the Saba Program, and related credit-based financing mechanisms. Subsequently, Eng. Milad Tahmasbi introduced the criteria and indicators for knowledge-based companies and elaborated on policies related to first-time domestic production, the Innovation-Driven Value Chain Network, cash-flow and market development, insurance support schemes, and other areas of special support available to knowledge-based companies.
Following this presentation, Eng. Soroush Afshar Pour and Eng. Fatemeh Salehi provided further explanations regarding technological investment and cooperation with universities under Paragraphs (b) and (c) of Article 11, Article 13, investment through the Innovation and Prosperity Fund, the Credit 14 System, the Saba Program, and credit-related mechanisms.
Subsequently, Eng. Milad Tahmasbi introduced the indicators used to assess knowledge-based companies and elaborated on policies related to first-time production, the innovative value-chain advancement network, cash flow and market development, insurance support, and dedicated support areas for knowledge-based companies.
At the final stage of the event, a ceremony honoring pioneers in the field of innovation was held in the presence of senior executives. Five leading and selected companies within Ahdaf Group were recognized for their achievements in the areas of knowledge-based development and research and development (R&D).
In this section, Oil Turbo compressor Holding (OTC), Naft G, Naft Sepahan, and Oil Industries’ Engineering and Construction (OIEC), together with the Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC), were honored with certificates of appreciation in recognition of their effective contributions to technology localization and the advancement of the knowledge-based ecosystem.