فصلنامه سیاست علم و فناوری
سال چهاردهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 49، بهار 1400)

Conversion of research into new and innovative products plays a very important role in economic development and progress of countries. This process is very complicated. One of the main problems is the mechanisms of financing. This practical research was conducted by long-term "multiple case study". The purpose of this article is to investigate the financial problems in the process of commercialization of knowledge-based products in the Iranian business environment. For this purpose, three suitable knowledge-based products were selected in Isfahan Scientific and Technology Town during the years 2004 to 2019. The data collection method was based on pluralism and a combination of Goldsmith and Serkin commercialization models was used to analyze the data after theoretical saturation. The results were modified and confirmed in the focus group. Results of this study showed the role of intelligent financial support in different growth stages of knowledge-based companies. In all three cases, the destructive effects of inappropriate financing policies such as bank loans, short-term facilities, insufficient support for private sector investors and the incompatibility of supportive policies with the growth period of knowledge-based companies were explained. The research result was presented as a general model, includes useful and harmful financial strategies in different stages of commercialization of knowledge-based products.

In addition to the important role of the development of NTBFs in the sustainable development of the country, these businesses have always been exposed to risks that threaten both the life and success of these companies. For this reason, the protection of these businesses has been considered by policymakers and legislators, and in the law to protect these companies, the insurance industry is obliged to support it. In this study, an attempt has been made with the assumption that the main reason for this failure is the lack of correct and comprehensive identification of risks, the risks faced by Iranian NTBFs, and to provide practical solutions to manage these risks. The present research is applied in terms of purpose and survey in terms of implementation method. The statistical population of the study is the managers of licensed and active companies and the stratified sampling method has been used by randomly selecting the members of the classes. Categories were considered the areas of activity of companies. The analysis of this study was based on 175 interviews with managers of NTBFs in 25 provinces in 2016. The result of the interviews was the identification of 23 risks. The results showed that although most of the risks faced by NTBFs are not insurable, to cover some of these risks, the capacities of the insurance industry can be used. For this reason, while explaining the identified risks, it was discussed in cases where there was an insurance solution for each of these risks.

New technology-based firms (NTBFs) are the driving force of innovation and technological progress and play a key role in job creation and economic growth.  Given the positive economic and social externalities and existing challenges in the growth path of these firms, governments engage in various support policies. Therefore, evaluating the success of these policies is very essential. In Iran, the Vice President for Science and Technology has implemented policies to support NTBFs since 2013. This study evaluates the effect of innovation policies on improving the probability that NTBFs transit to the growth stage, using official data. The results from a logit model confirm a positive impact from tax credits, low-interest loans, and counseling services on the probability of transition. Also, firms with high-technology products have a higher probability of achieving the growth stage compared to firms with medium-technology products. Finally, NTBFs working in the field of "information and communication technology" have the highest probability of success, while those in the "biotechnology" sector have the lowest probability. Differences in the growth probability in different sectors emphasize the importance of sectoral sectoral prioritization and vertical policies opposed to general and horizontal policies. Effective policies should be analyzed together with highly responsive sector in drafting optimal support policies.

Lack of demand and market is one of the most important obstacles to technology development and innovation dissemination, especially in developing countries. This qualitative research analyzes one the most important experiments to formulate the demand-side policies in Iran, that is, Maximum Use of Country's Production and Service Capacity Act. The changes of this act were investigated longitudinally relying on seven semi-structured interviews. Analyzing different versions of the act shows that during two revisions, the number of policies with systemic approach has been gradually reduced while the number of policies stimulating private demand has been increased. In the first revision in 2012, the policies that stimulate the demand of final consumers are emphasized, while in the second revision in 2019, a pattern similar to the act of 1996 (stimulating the demand of large companies) is observed, indicating the inefficiency of the 2012 reforms. Clearly, the results show that during this period, direct demand stimulation policies have played a more prominent role compared to policies with the logic of integration and coordination of supply and demand. In addition, over the past revisions of the act, support for the improvement of local technological capability and stimulation of private demand have increased consistently, while reinforcement of the act has not been improved. Moreover, other than a short interval in the 2000s, the implementation of the act has not been considered by Supreme Economy Council. Findings have implications for future policy making efforts on industrialization and innovation policies.

International entrepreneurship focuses on the search for business development opportunities across borders. Foreign incubators can play an important role in facilitating the entry of companies into foreign markets. So far, however, less research has focused on the role of international incubators' in the internationalization of start-ups from developing countries. The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate the role of these incubators in the foreign entry of technology-intensive companies from an emerging country. First, by reviewing the research literature complemented by interviews with managers of client companies, the incubator services for facilitating foreign market entry have been identified. Then, applying the importance-performance analysis (IPA) method, the existing gaps in the provided services are examined and finally, the improvement in the risk and control of exporting companies has been analysed. Based on the results of theme analysis, four main factors including knowledge accumulation and learning, access to networks, risk reduction and increasing control and commitment were identified and then 24 expected services from the growth center were prioritized. The overall performance of the incubator indicates a schematic improvement in the slope of the risk-control chart for the target companies.

One of the important approaches in public procurement for innovation policy is the provider-supplier approach, and this study seeks to provide an appropriate policy framework for developing a Buyer vs. Supplier Perspective of Oil Industry Equipment Innovation model in Iran's oil industry through a case study of supplying 10 essential commodities in the oil industry. For this purpose, a qualitative case study has been used in the research method. Method of data collection in the first step, policy documents and reports related to the ten basic Equipment project and in the second step, purposeful interviews and interviews are semi-structured. The policy model presented in this paper for public procurement for innovation in Iranian oil industry equipment shows the supplier-buyer approach; The policy goal of the 10-item plan was to reduce imports and meet the basic needs of Iran's oil industry, especially in the face of sanctions, and the development of technology and stimulating the demand for innovation was a secondary goal. This issue has been reflected both in the selection of items and in the process of selecting the winners, and has changed the course of policy implementation from demand stimulation tools to in-house procurement policy. On the other hand, the dissolution of the centralized purchasing trustee and executor of the 10 items project, defects in the evaluation system, especially the subsequent evaluation of the approved roadmap, and finally problems in financing the project have disrupted the effective implementation of the policy.