Identifying Barriers to Commercialization of Research Findings of Knowledge-Based Centers:Case Study of Iran Space Research Center

The aim of this study was to investigate obstacles affecting the commercialization process of research finding of Iran Space Research center as one of the leading research centers in the field of innovative space technologies. This research is a part of the study of the commercialization research plan of all the products of the research center with a focus on non-space applications. The statistical sample included 30 experts and managers of the research center. Interviews were used for data collection in the qualitative approach, and questionnaires were used in the quantitative approach. The findings of the qualitative approach identified five main categories and twenty-six sub-factors as effective obstacles in the commercialization , while the quantitative approach findings included the prioritization of all main and sub-factors. The research results showed that the main obstacles included financial and economic issues, lack of skilled and capable human resources, the immaturity level of technology, inadequate collaboration between the Iran Space Research Institute and industrial centers, and the absence of suitable customer-employer networks, with sub-categories of these factors also being prioritized. The quantitative findings of the research showed that in terms of economic and financial issues, the factor of the "lack of sufficient governmental funding for profitable researches", in terms of skilled and capable human resources, "salaries and wages" and in terms of technological maturity, "weak ability to buy licenses of products related to researches" in terms of customer-employer network,"insufficient information due to weak information systems" and in terms of the research institute-industry cooperation, " insufficient knowledge of the industry related to institute and its potential and the industry's weak trust to the center's research results and participation in related investments have been the most important sub-factors in commercialization of research findings and research institute products, and managers should prioritize solving these problems.