Analysis of the Value Chain of Academic Entrepreneurship in Iran: Identifying Institutional Gaps and Barriers in the Knowledge Commercialization Pathway
Keywords:
Entrepreneurial university, Higher education in Iran, Indigenous model, Fuzzy AHP, Entrepreneurship ecosystemAbstract
Given that most entrepreneurial university models have been developed within the context of developed countries, the direct transfer of these models to Iran’s higher education system is accompanied by institutional, cultural, and structural constraints. The purpose of this study was to design and conceptualize an indigenous entrepreneurial university model aligned with Iran’s contextual conditions and to refine it through value chain analysis of academic entrepreneurship using an institutional and ecosystem perspective. This research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach (qualitative–quantitative). In the qualitative phase, a systematic review of domestic and international literature and a comparative analysis of more than 30 entrepreneurial university models were carried out, along with semi-structured interviews and expert questionnaires involving 40 national specialists in higher education and entrepreneurship. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis and comparative techniques. In the quantitative phase, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) was employed to prioritize the extracted dimensions and to manage uncertainty in expert judgments. In addition, value chain analysis of academic entrepreneurial activities was conducted with a focus on teaching-oriented universities in the country. The results led to the identification of eight core dimensions of the Iranian entrepreneurial university, including human capital, legal and institutional environment, social capital, supporting organizations, cultural environment, social environment, physical capital, and geographical context. The findings of the Fuzzy AHP analysis indicated that human capital and the legal–institutional environment had the highest priority. Furthermore, the value chain analysis revealed significant gaps in the stages of commercialization, market development, and scalability. The findings emphasize the necessity of reforming legal frameworks, strengthening support institutions, redesigning university incentive systems, and integrating the academic entrepreneurship value chain.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Azizollah Arbabi (Author); Mohammad Mehdi Parhizgar; Karim Hamdi (Author)
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