The IASP 2018 World Conference in Isfahan with the theme of “Towards sustainable cities and communities: fostering innovation ecosystems” will explore the role of STPs and AOIs in the formation of the innovation ecosystem and the sustainable development of cities. In 2015, the UN adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide global action and investment for sustainable development over the next 15 years, one of which focuses on Sustainable Cities and Communities. Collaboration between different actors and exchange of knowledge between countries are crucial for successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda: as typical triple helix organisations, STPs and AOIs can play a central role in the process, supporting the orientation of their cities towards the knowledge economy and promoting sustainable development.

The program will be divided into a variety of sessions, retaining both the traditional plenary and parallel sessions on specific topics, as well as more innovative formats to encourage a more dynamic knowledge exchange.