Commercialization of Science: Critical Considerations

Recently, the issue of knowledge and technology commercialization has expanded among policymakers and scientific circles. Global economic condition in recent years has led the development plans (Chapter IV of the Fourth Development Plan, Articles 16, 17 and 18 of the Fifth Plan) [1,2], to consider it. Policymakers constantly discuss the third generation of universities; the ones involved in entrepreneurial activities. From the researchers’ viewpoint, identification, creation and commercialization of intellectual property has become an institutional goal of the academic system in this era.
The concept of academic entrepreneurship as well as commercialization of science, like many other concepts, have been imported from the outside geographic boundaries into the country. It can provide opportunity of using other communities’ experiences and at the same time, creating challenges in accordance with the contextual, structural and cultural characteristics. Therefore commercialization subject in Iran should be constructed in respect to its local and contextual characteristics rather than mere implementation of leading countries’ patterns. This paper aimed to identify and describe the major considerations of science commercialization in Iran, in order to encourage commercial activities in scientific societies and universities.