Modeling Factors Affecting Technological Collaboration Achievements: A Case Study of Technological Collaboration in the Field of Nanotechnology in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Allameh Tabataba’i University

2 Malekashtar University

Abstract

Many studies have been carried out on technological collaboration achievements in the field of science and technology policy. Some focus on the effectiveness of science and technology policies. Iran's science and technology policies support technological collaboration by providing many incentives, especially for emerging technologies like nanotechnology. There are still some debates about whether these policies are effective or not. This study is conducted to investigate the factors affecting achievements of technological collaborations. Based on the related literature, the factors affecting technological collaborations are classified into four groups: individual, institutional, organizational, and interactional. The model is verified by interviewing 20 experts active in the field of science and technology policy and nanotechnology sector in Iran. After that, the model is examined by structural equations modeling and path analysis methods. All the 72 researchers participated in the survey are randomly selected from nanotechnology experts' database. The results show that the interactional factors, including social networks, individual interactions, organizational interactions and technological networks, directly and positively affect collaboration achievements.

Keywords


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