The capital of Russia hosted a specialized meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on “Developing an Integrated SCO Startup Ecosystem as a Path to Regional Technological Leadership” on September 18. The event, held on the sidelines of the Second International Technology Congress, was organized by the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

The one-day event convened experts and officials from SCO member states to discuss ways to integrate and harmonize national startup ecosystems, share best practices for supporting startups, and develop practical plans for regional cooperation in innovation and technology.

Representing the Center for Progress and Development of Iran (CPDI) Presidency, the assistant to the Counsellor for Technology and Innovation at the Embassy of the I.R. Iran delivered a keynote speech highlighting the country’s commitment to fostering innovation and regional collaboration.

The discussions at the Moscow meeting centered on coordinating approaches to startup regulation, developing targeted support measures for industries across the SCO region, aligning infrastructure for national startup ecosystem development and creating joint tools to help startups from member states access mutual markets. Participants also explored creating collaborative mechanisms for education and expert guidance to support startups throughout the bloc.

Speakers from I.R. Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and India emphasized the SCO's significant potential, proposing initiatives such as a unified regulatory framework, joint innovation project funds, shared scientific-research centers, and a single market for startups across member states.

The representative of Russia’s Skolkovo Foundation also addressed the session, expressing support for the proposals and suggesting that the foundation serve as a shared platform for SCO member states to exchange information on startups to further promote innovative tech companies in the region.

Several Russian companies also showcased their technological products and solutions at the Moscow meeting and expressed their readiness to collaborate with SCO member states to bolster the regional startup ecosystem.

The proposals and recommendations from the Moscow meeting are set for review at the meeting of SCO Prime Ministers in November.