Modifying BSC for national nanotechnology development: an implication for “social capital” role in NIS theory

In this research, we have designed and implemented the Strategy Map and Balanced Scorecard technique in evaluating the progress of National Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative (NINI). In conducting this research, we have learned that the layers of Strategy Map are congruent with the National Innovation System (NIS) levels. The use of Strategy Map and Balanced Scorecard in conjunction with an opinion survey of the nanotechnology experts showed “social capital” at the bottom layer and economic development at the top layer of the Strategy Map of the NIS infrastructure in Iran. These findings have broad implications not only for Iranian nanotechnology development, but also are important for the theory of NIS

Extracting the innovation policies for Iran based on the approximation of policy implications for comparative economic doctrines

Due to many differences in presumptions and theoretical foundations within neoclassical and evolutionary economics, policy-makers are always confronted with the dilemma of selecting one of these two central models for technology and innovation policy. In light of widely institutionalised ineffectiveness in the field of market and systematic coordination – in Iran as well many other countries – the present investigation presumes that reliance on any of the above doctrines alone is ineffective. An intermediate concept of policy rationales to achieve a comparative structure of policy implications is proposed. Policy rationales (in innovation and technological policy) for neoclassical and evolutionary economics were derived based on a thematic analysis. A spectrum of policy implications of both doctrines was designed and completed in the form of a questionnaire for, together with theoretical foundations and policy rationales by specialists of the field of innovative and technological policy in Iran. Given the institutional conditions and structural frameworks which actually exist, and in spite of wide dissimilarities within the theoretical foundations of neoclassical and evolutionary economics, Clustering of respondents and subsequent test trials show that policy implications of the economics doctrines in the field of innovative and technological policy in Iran are complementary and convergent

Nanotechnology and sociopolitical modernity in developing countries; case study of Iran

What we must keep in mind is that although nanotechnology is an emerging and high technology, it is still technology or, in other words, it has an instrumental nature and in order to study its effect on societies we have to consider the role of instruments’ evolution in societies and study nanotechnology as the most recent part of this trend. In this article we study the nature of modern technologies, role of technology based economy on different social and political aspects of developing countries; we have a review on the concept of social and political modernity and describe how development of nanotechnology will accelerate those countries’ modernization from social and political point of view in addition to modernizing their economy. So this paper is a cross‐disciplinary study between nanotechnology and social sciences. There are two different scenarios about the future of nanotechnology. One is the proof of radical nanotechnology and the other is the acceptance of the claim that nanotechnology is only an enabling technology. In the present paper, we studied the effects of both scenarios. The obstacles to modernity in Iran and potential effect of nanotechnology on them are studied as a case study. Santrauka Nors nanotechnologija yra nauja ir pažangi technologija, ji tėra tik instrumentas. Norint įvertinti jos reikšmę visuomenei, reikia išnagrinėti panašių instrumentų raidą visuomenėse ir vertinti nanotechnologiją kaip naujausią tendenciją. Šiame straipsnyje ištirta šiuolaikinių technologijų prigimtis, technologijos vaidmuo žinių ekonomikoje skirtingais besivystančių šalių socialiniais ir politiniais periodais, apžvelgtos socialinio ir politinio šiuolaikiškumo sąvokos, apibūdinta, kaip išsivysčiusios nanotechnologijos pagreitins šalių modernizaciją socialiniu ir politiniu požiūriu be jų ekonomikos modernizavimą. Šis straipsnis yra nanotechnologijos ir socialinių mokslų tarpdisciplininė studija. Yra du skirtingi nanotechnologijos ateities scenarijai: pirmasis teigia, kad nanotechnologija sukels radikalių pokyčių; antrasis skelbia, kad nanotechnologija yra tiktai galimybių suteikimo technologija. Šiame straipsnyje tyrinėti abiejų scenarijų padariniai, tirtos kliūtys šiuolaikiškumui Irane įsitvirtinti ir nanotechnologijos poveikis šaliai. First published online: 21 Oct 2010 Reikšminiai žodžiai: nanotechnologija, šiuolaikiškumas, Iranas, žinių ekonomika, prekinė priklausomybė, sociotechninė sistema, besivystančios šalys

Transportation of hazardous materials in Iran: A strategic approach for decreasing accidents

“Hazardous materials” refer to those substances that seriously endanger human lives and/or the environment. The transportation of these materials will be inevitable in the increasingly industrialized economy of Iran. Nonetheless, numerous deadly accidents caused by the movement of these materials necessitate the design and implementation of preventive plans on several levels. This article looks into the present condition of transportation of hazardous materials in Iran and the resulting accidents. Optimal condition for the general transportation system of hazardous materials is delineated with due focus on transportation risk as the main parameter. Strategies for reaching the optimal condition are laid out and the impacts of these strategies on the reduction of accidents are analyzed. First published online: 27 Oct 201

Groping toward the next stages of technology development and human society: a metaphor from an Iranian poet

So far, the human society has experienced four stages of development namely: Hunter–gatherer age, Agricultural age, Industrial age and Information age. Many researchers have tried to explore some scenarios to envision where human being is going in the future but the question is still unresolved and there is no unique answer. This paper aims to probe the next stages using a metaphor of an ancient Persian poem from Attar Neyshaburi (that is one of the famous Iranian poets and mystics, lived around 13th century A.D.). In this poem, Attar argues that the wayfarer must traverse seven valleys to achieve perfection. In this paper, it is hypothesised that these valleys could provide a fruitful source of vision – as a metaphor – to think about the evolution of human society. The results suggest that the next three stages which human society would experience might be: Technological convergence age, Intelligence age and Post-humanity age. These results could be helpful in providing vision for the process of technology policy design and social development

Governmental origin: why NTBFs grow in a transitional economy

The NTBFs have attracted growing interest from most of the transitional economies as they are seen as an important source of greater value added creation while being characterised with higher rate of return on capital. Shedding light on the growth determinants of new technology-based firms not only helps managers to accomplish organisational goals but also assists policymakers in devising effective strategies. The role of individual, organisational as well as environmental factors in the development of the new technology-based firms has been separately addressed by many researchers. The simultaneity of these factors leads to diverse configurations, each of which envisaging different growth paths for the firm. The aim of this paper is to identify the growth paths for the new technology-based firms. To this end, Some interviews were conducted with the managers of the developed new technology-based firms in Iran (as a transitional economy) and the key themes governing the growth pattern of this group of firms have been identified using the thematic analysis, while possible growth paths for these firms were established by means of qualitative comparative analysis. The designed questionnaires were distributed among 22 developed firms and 8 underdeveloped firms for the period 2013–2015 and the obtained data were analysed using the FSQCA software, which led us to the development of dominant growth path for new technology-based firms. Based on the findings of this paper and factors affecting the growth of firms, two growth paths are suggested for the new technology-based firms, of which the one with greater role for government is more likely to take place. Communication with government officials and lobbying groups in the field of science and technology as the key customer in transitional economies is critical to the corporate growth, which has been identified as a sufficient condition for this research

Analysis of the transition to new technologies in wealth management in Iran

Wealthtech or financialtechnology of wealth management helps investors to make better decisions about when and how to invest; and seeks to shift savings and investments to the capital market and balanced the money and capital markets. This study examines the transition of wealthtech in Iran. Transition refers to the process of creating and replacing a new technology and its acceptance by the community. For the analysis of the transition, the multi-level perspective analytical framework was used and the interactions of actors and institutions with technology at different levels are analyzed. The transition to wealthtech has been studied through a qualitative and narrative research method, and data have been collected through the study of regulations and policy documents, as well as press interviews and press reports published in fintech media. 252 reports were reviewed, of which 118 reports were related to the discussion and the opinions of 36 experts were analyzed. With the studies, the functions of the financial system of wealth management were identified. By analyzing the behavior of actors who performing the functions against technological developments and institutional changes, the typology of the transition was determined as reconfiguration path. The reconfiguration path follows the innovation overflow pattern and caused changing the architecture of the regime. In the end, the public release of information and informing to citizens should also be followed Simultaneously with the provision of conditions for providing innovative services. Through the simultaneous reinforcement of the supply side and the demand side, the optimal transition will be possible

Fuzzy C-Means Clustering as a Discourse Analysis Method (Case Study: Institutional Interactions of Science and Technology Policy in Iran)

In this paper, an attempt has been made to develop a qualitative method of discourse analysis in a mixed (qualitative-quantitative) method by using the quantitative method of fuzzy c-means clustering. For this purpose, the institutional interactions of science and technology policy in Iran have been studied as a case study. Therefore, according to the "exploratory sequential mixed method", first using the fuzzy c-means clustering method and the questionnaire tool, the discourses of experts on the subject are identified and then using the Laclau and Mouffe discourse analysis method and interview tools to explain the nodal points, moments and articulations. Thus, "collaborative discourse" around the nodal point of "integrated policy making" and "independent discourse" around the nodal point of "government policy making" were identified. The most important result of this research is the development of discourse analysis method from qualitative paradigm to mixed paradigm and of course increasing the validity of research findings. In addition, this innovation is in line with the main stream in methodology and, due to the use of fuzzy logic, is very similar to the ambiguous and complex concepts of social sciences

Analysis of the Functions of the Financial Technological Innovation System in Wealthtech Transition

Abstract Today, digital solutions are used to facilitate wealth management processes, which is referred to as wealth management technology (Wealthtech). Wealthtech have led to a change in the traditional socio-technical regime, which is explained by the concept of transition. This study aims to investigate the transition with the analytical framework of the technological innovation system. Previous researchers, by studying renewable technology, have identified seven functions for a technological innovation system and demonstrated how the system works. Because the transition of the wealthtech is a short-term transition compared to the transition to renewable technologies, the wealth management technology innovation system has different functions from the renewable technology innovation system. At the same time, Iran, as a developing country, has a following position compared to developed countries, which leads to differences in the functions and performance of the system. This study has used the qualitative research method and content analysis strategy to investigate the wealthtech transition with the analytical framework of the technological innovation system. In this regard, by studying the reports, materials and interviews published in financial and fintech media during the period 1394 to the end of 1399, the opinions of activists in this field in Iran have been reviewed and analyzed, and finally 9 functions of providing technological infrastructure, communications and Networking, information and knowledge exchange, policy and legislation, citizen awareness and financial citizenship formation, financing, human resource development, research and development as well as innovative activities have been identified.Introduction The speed of information exchange in the present age has caused the inefficiency of traditional models in the field of finance and indicates the need for the transition to new financial technologies such as wealthtech. This study uses the analytical framework of the technological innovation system to analyze the wealthtech transition. In studying the transition of wealthtech in Iran, two features should be considered. On the one hand, wealthtech transition is a short-term transition with continuous innovations, and on the other hand, Iran is a developing country that is in a position of follower compared to developed countries. These two characteristics make different the functions necessary for the transition from the functions of the technological innovation system mentioned in the literature so far. Therefore, this study seeks to identify the functions required for the wealthtech transition.Case Study This study identifies the functions of the transition in the field of financial technologies and focuses specifically on wealth management technology.Materials and Method The research method is qualitative and content analysis strategy has been used. In this regard, the views of activists in the field on the necessary measures in the innovative system of financial technology for the transition to wealthtech have been reviewed and coded, and with the help of the analytical framework of the technological innovation system, the necessary functions for optimal performance have been identified. The data were collected through a study of regulations and policy documents, as well as interviews and press reports published in the fintech media. 252 reports were reviewed, of which 118 were related, during which the opinions of 23 experts were reviewed and analyzed.Discussion and Findings Data coding and analysis led to the identification of 9 functions for the wealthtech transition, which are: provision of technological infrastructure, communication and networking, information and knowledge exchange, policy and legislation, citizen awareness and Formation of financial citizenship, financing, human resource development, research and development, and finally innovative activities.Conclusion This study emphasizes the importance of two functions: policy-making and legislation and education and raising awareness of citizens. Due to the government structure and dependence on the government in Iran, the scope of activities of the legislatures is strongly influenced by the decisions of the policy makers of the field. Proper policy-making and legislation lead to the direction of technological developments in the market and change the behavior of actors opposed to the transition or gradually eliminate them. In this regard, adopting a participatory approach with stakeholders in the capital market and the field of wealth management is important to align interests. In addition, by adjusting the rules for attracting capital in the stock market, the conditions for financing the start-up companies in the stock market will be made possible. On the other hand, the end users of wealthtech are citizens who are investors. Activities in the capital market require the promotion of financial literacy among citizens and actors. With the advent of innovative services based on advanced technologies, the promotion of digital literacy and the ability to use fintechs is also essential to generate demand. The function of awareness raising and the formation of financial citizenship also affects the function of human resource development and increasing the expertise of policy makers as well as intermediaries in the capital market

Developing strategies to reduce the risk of hazardous materials transportation in Iran using the method of fuzzy swot analysis

An increase in hazardous materials transportation in Iran along with the industrial development and increase of resulted deadly accidents necessitate the development and implementation of some strategies to reduce these incidents. SWOT analysis is an efficient method for developing strategies, however, its structural problems, including a lack of prioritizing internal and external factors and inability to consider two sided factors reducing its performance in the situations where the number of internal and external factors affecting the risk of hazardous materials is relatively high and some factors are two sided in nature are presented in the article. Fuzzy SWOT analysis is a method the use of which helps with solving these problems and is the issue of employing an effective methodology. Also, the article compares the resulted strategies of the fuzzy method with the strategies developed following SWOT in order to show the relative supremacy of the new method. First published online: 27 Oct 201