Factors Affecting Technological catch-up failure in Iran’s Steel Value Chain

This study aims to analyze the current technological status of the steel industry in Iran. It studies the factors affecting the failure of technological catch-up in the steel value chain and provides appropriate policy solutions for the development of this industry. To attain this aim, the paper chose the qualitative methodological strategy. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 experts in Iran’s steel industry and then, a qualitative content analysis method was applied to analyze the interviews. Then, the most important and effective factors were determined by mobilizing a focus group consisting of 5 Iranian steel experts. The findings show that the most important barriers to successful catching up, divided at three levels of national, sectoral, and enterprise analysis. The most important factors, according to the focus group, are weakness in research and development, international constraints, complex and time-consuming bureaucracies in receiving support, the weak constructive interaction between actors and finally, the dominance of some unauthorized institutions in the steel value chain.Finally, the focus group recommended some policy solutions of which the most important ones include 1. To invest in the development of sustainable technologies with appropriate pricing on energy, 2. To supply, coordinate, and manage the resource to eliminate the monopoly of some suppliers and to improve the supply relationship and promotion of supplier-producer, 3. To establish intermediary institutions and the centers to train skilled workers with technological knowledge and injection into various sectors of industry, and 4. To use of Iranians educated abroad in related fields and specialties.