Examining Global Innovation Pillars and Iran’s Position, Identifying the Knowledge-Based Issues System and Their Root Causes
Abstract
The world today has significantly changed compared to previous decades, and the key to national, organizational, and business success lies in the nature of knowledge, technology, innovation, and the commercialization of these achievements. Policymakers in science and technology are well aware that even a single day of lag in the path of innovation means years of relying on foreign products and the formation of monopolies. In this context, evaluating the overall state of innovation has become a major concern actively pursued by various countries. This issue has driven innovation-focused institutions to prepare relevant reports.
Some key headings of this article are:
The global pillars of innovation and Iran’s position
The Global Innovation Index consists of 7 pillars, 21 sub-pillars, and 81 indicators. In 2022, Iran ranked 53rd globally—its highest position ever. It was also recognized for the second time as an “innovation achiever”—a country outperforming expectations relative to its GDP per capita. Over the past decade, Iran has made significant efforts to boost innovation and commercialize technical achievements. As a result, its GII ranking has improved notably—from 113 in 2013 to 53 in 2022—despite some fluctuations. The biggest leap occurred in 2016, jumping from 106 to 78.
Identification of Knowledge-Based Issues and Root Causes
The identification of knowledge-based issues and their root causes was done in seven steps, including thematic analysis and evaluating the effects and relationships between issues and causes.
Key Findings
1.Major issues include low accountability, traditional entrepreneurship, weak infrastructure, and ineffective law enforcement.
2.Less impactful factors involve insufficient private funding, over-reliance on government, and lack of confidence in domestic technology.
Root Causes
1.Key causes include lack of meritocracy, managerial inefficiency, weak education, and sanctions.
2.Less impactful causes include low-quality products and weak managerial oversight.
Analyzing the cause-and-effect relationships of the root causes
The main root causes identified are: “conflict of interest,” “lack of meritocracy,” “managerial inefficiency,” and “weak basic education.” For example, the lack of meritocracy leads to low private sector participation in commercializing knowledge-based products, caused by low demand and poor product quality. This is due to weak R&D performance, which stems from poor managerial knowledge and weak infrastructure, all of which are linked to the lack of meritocracy.
This study was conducted at Development and Foresight Research Center in collaboration with Hamid Mohammadi, Sara Madanian, Mohadeseh Bashir Mashhadi, Golnesa Salavati, and Yadollah Divsalar in 2022.
To read more, click here
