Typology of Public Research Institutes in Iran

Public research institutes are a type of research and development organizations that have been created with the investment of governments to meet the research needs of the public sector. They have a large number and variety in different countries. Therefore, a proper understanding of the requirements and characteristics of these types of organizations, as well as knowing the main features that differentiate them from each other, is very important for managers and policy makers in the technology field at different levels. In this paper, an attempt has been made to present the typology of these public organizations by applying a meta-synthesis approach and reviewing international original articles, as well as studying documents and annual performance reports of 30 top research institutes in Iran. For this purpose, in the first step and by applying meta-synthesis method, the existing literature was reviewed and the results of text analysis were categorized in the form of 32 selected codes, 9 categories, and 3 themes as indicators of differentiation of these institutions. Then, the selected sample of research institutes was evaluated in the identified concepts to determine their status in each category in accordance with the existing documentation. The results of this research have identified two main types, including research institutes with the mission of supporting science and technology policymaking and research institutes with the mission of creating economic value, as well as two subtypes including a combination of the above two missions and the mission of technology transfer in Iran which have different characteristics. This typology can be used in the recognition, policy making, planning, evaluation and better management of these key actors of the national innovation system.