ISTFA Can Bridge the Gap Between Scientific Achievements and the Market
Head of the UNESCO Chair on Entrepreneurship said: The Technology Commercialization and Knowledge-Based Employment Organization of Jahad Daneshgahi (ISTFA) can bridge the gap between scientific achievements and the market.
According to the report of Ambassador Arjan, quoted by Jihad University Knowledge-Based Employment and Technology Commercialization Organization (SETFA), Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Moghimi explained the concept of technological authority and the requirements for its realization and stated: In today's world, the ability to produce, develop and exploit knowledge and technology has become one of the factors that determine the superiority and competitiveness of countries. From this point of view, technological authority does not only mean the achievement of scientific achievements or the production of advanced technologies, but it shows the ability of a country to manage a continuous chain from the creation of knowledge to its transformation into national power and international influence.
He added: technological authority can be seen as the ability of a country to create, absorb, develop, localize and apply knowledge and technology; In such a way that through the transformation of knowledge into innovation, innovation into wealth and wealth into national power, the ground for strengthening strategic independence, national security, economic growth, social welfare and sustainable competitive advantage is provided.
Stating that the production of science alone does not guarantee development and authority, Moghimi continued: Knowledge acquires strategic value when it crosses the boundaries of the laboratory and article and becomes a usable technology. In this way, growth centers, science and technology parks, knowledge-based companies and commercialization institutions provide the context for the transfer of scientific findings to the field of application.
He stated: Technology also becomes a strategic asset when it can meet the needs of society and industry, be present in the market and create economic value. At this stage, technological entrepreneurship, venture capital, market development and export of knowledge-based products are particularly important.
The head of UNESCO's entrepreneurship chair noted: The ultimate goal of technological authority is not simply to create wealth; Rather, the wealth from technology should lead to strengthening the country's infrastructure, increasing economic competitiveness, developing human capital, improving the quality of governance, and strengthening national security. At the highest level, the national power resulting from technology can be transformed into regional and global influence through the export of products, technical services, platforms and technological standards.
Science and research lead to authority when it serves to solve the country's problems
Referring to the place of science and research in the progress of the country, Moghimi said: In the logic of the statement of the second step of the revolution, which was drawn by the leadership of Martyr of the Revolution (RA), science is not only a tool for increasing theoretical knowledge, but it is considered the source of national authority, the country's independence, public welfare and economic progress. From this point of view, science gains strategic value when it can lead to technology, innovation, production, wealth creation and solving the country's problems.
He added: Universities, research centers, knowledge-based companies, elites and technological entrepreneurs are the main actors of this path. Because they form the link connecting science to technology and technology to progress and national authority. Therefore, the development of science and technology should be considered as a fundamental strategy to achieve independence and self-reliance, increase national power and build the country's future.
"Death valley of technology"; The bottleneck of turning knowledge into products
Referring to the challenges of the science, technology and innovation system in Iran, the former president of Tehran University said: one of the fundamental issues of the country is not in the stage of knowledge production, but in the transformation of knowledge into technology and the transfer of scientific achievements from universities and research institutes to industry and the market. During the past decades, the country has grown significantly in many scientific indicators and a valuable capacity of knowledge and ideas has been created in universities and research centers; However, a significant part of this capacity has not yet been transformed into applied technologies, competitive products and knowledge-based businesses.
He continued: Scientific findings should go beyond the format of articles, research reports, and dissertations and reach inventions, technical knowledge, prototypes, industrial processes, technological products, and finally knowledge-based businesses. This transition is one of the most complicated and costly stages of the innovation chain, which is referred to as the "Death Valley of Technology" in the technology management literature; The stage where many scientific ideas and achievements stop before reaching the market.
Referring to the research carried out in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, new energies, medical equipment and agricultural technologies, Moghimi stated: Some of these achievements, despite having the capacity to solve important issues of the country in fields such as water, energy, environment, health and industry, due to the lack of effective commercialization networks, lack of venture capital, weak connection between universities and industry or the lack of market development mechanisms, have the opportunity to enter the field of production and economy. they don't
Setfa can be a link between research, technology, industry and market
Emphasizing the role of intermediate and development institutions in completing the innovation chain, he said: The organization of technology commercialization and knowledge-based employment of Jihad University can facilitate the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the market by identifying scientific achievements, evaluating their commercialization capacity and establishing communication between researchers, technologists, investors and industries.
Moghimi added: Setfa's role is not only to provide financial support; Rather, this organization can create a network of technology development services, business consulting, capital attraction, follow-up of licenses, market development, and connection to exploiting industries, providing the basis for the transformation of primary technologies into industrial and commercial products.
Pointing to examples of technologies that can be commercialized, including intelligent energy consumption management systems, medical diagnostic kits, new water purification technologies, and artificial intelligence-based software, he continued: In order to enter the market, such technologies, in addition to technical knowledge, need to know the customer's needs, develop a prototype, secure capital, and access the sales network. Setfa can increase the probability of success of technological teams and knowledge-based companies by providing these complementary circles.
The head of the UNESCO entrepreneurship chair stated that the commercialization of technology should be seen as a systematic and ecological process, and noted that success in this field depends on the coordination between academia, industry, capital, politics and the market. If these components act in isolation, even valuable scientific achievements may not be transformed into products and economic value.
Financial support alone is not enough to commercialize technology
Referring to the obstacles facing the commercialization of technology, Dr. Moghimi said: lack of capital, legal complications, weak culture of accepting domestic technologies, and limited communication between universities and industry, all play a role in this issue; But none of them can be considered as the main factor alone. The more important issue is the lack of a coordinated ecosystem in which research, funding, technology development, industrial production and market access are linked together.
He added: Even if a technology is scientifically successful, without proper investment, a specific customer, product development infrastructure, and a route to the market, the possibility of its commercialization will be limited. Therefore, along with amending regulations and facilitating the activities of technology companies, the development of venture capital, strengthening trust in domestic technology, and increasing cooperation between actors in the innovation ecosystem should be provided.
He continued by emphasizing the necessity of strengthening the commercialization infrastructure: development of specialized services, financing, access to the market, legal protections and providing a competitive and predictable environment are requirements for the growth of technological businesses. Also, the development of the export of knowledge-based products should be considered along with the creation of the domestic market so that technology can become a stable income and a competitive advantage.
Systematic link between university and industry shortens the path of technology development
Emphasizing the necessity of moving towards needs-based innovations, the professor of Tehran University said: One of the important strategies to improve the effectiveness of the innovation system is to identify the real problems of industries and society and direct research capacities to solve them. In this approach, first the technological problem and need are determined, and then scientific teams and technological companies are employed to develop the solution.
Referring to the capacity of large industries to play a role in this process, Moghimi added: For example, a steel industry may face challenges such as reducing energy consumption, increasing the life of equipment, predicting machinery breakdowns, or optimizing the production process. In the needs-oriented approach, these issues are identified first, and then Setfa can introduce appropriate teams to provide a scientific and technological solution through the network of universities and technological companies. As a result, the technology is developed from the ground up according to the application, the customer and the route to market.
He continued: In the field of health, issues such as the high cost of medical equipment, dependence on imports, and the need for quick diagnosis of diseases can become opportunities for the development of local solutions. Setfa can provide the basis for the design and development of equipment such as advanced diagnostic tools and intelligent health systems by establishing a relationship between knowledge-based companies, research centers and applicant departments.
Moghimi considered the access to the first customer as one of the challenges of new knowledge-based companies and said: even if a company has produced a successful technology, the lack of an industrial customer can hinder its growth. The presence of large industries as the initial customer of the technology provides the opportunity to test and improve the product in the real environment and prepare for entering the wider market.
He clarified: This bilateral cooperation will both help the growth of technology companies and allow industries to provide part of their needs through internal power instead of buying technology from abroad. This trend can increase productivity, reduce costs and strengthen the competitiveness of industries while reducing technological dependence.
Development of technological entrepreneurship and knowledge-based employment, a way to preserve human capital
Emphasizing the link between technological development and sustainable employment, the head of UNESCO's entrepreneurship chair stated: One of the requirements for the realization of a knowledge-based economy is the transformation of the country's human and scientific capital into technological entrepreneurship and sustainable job opportunities. The issue is not only the training of expert staff; Rather, an environment should be provided so that elites and specialists can use their knowledge and creativity in solving the country's problems, developing technology and creating innovative businesses.
He added: If there is no connection between the scientific ability of the elites and real economic and technological opportunities, a part of this human capital will be directed towards opportunities abroad or activities unrelated to their expertise. Hence, the best way to retain elites is to create real opportunities for impact, professional growth and turning their knowledge into economic and social value.
Referring to the role of Setfa in this context, Moghimi said: Setfa's mission is not only to create jobs, but to shape the value chain of knowledge-based employment; The chain that begins with the identification of innovative ideas, continues with the development of technology and the creation of a knowledge-based company, and reaches economic growth through the introduction of the product into the market.
He continued: Many university graduates have high scientific ability, but in order to turn their idea into a successful business, they need entrepreneurship training, business consulting, initial financial support, technological infrastructure, and communication with the market. By providing these services, Setfa can facilitate the researcher's path from scientific ideation to technological entrepreneurship.
He stated that supporting technological teams can lead to the formation of knowledge-based companies and the creation of specialized job opportunities, adding: SETFA's cooperation with science and technology parks, growth centers, universities, research institutes and institutions related to employment and entrepreneurship also creates an important capacity to complete the country's innovation ecosystem.
Moghimi explained: Science and technology parks usually provide infrastructure such as establishment space, support services and communication network; While Setfa can focus on commercialization, business development, connecting technology to industry and market creation. This division of roles makes the path of transforming a technological idea into a sustainable company more consistent and in addition to the direct employment of specialists, it can create indirect job opportunities in the production chain, services, sales and market development.
Big industries should become the primary customers of domestic technologies
Emphasizing the necessity of creating a national network of cooperation between large industries, universities, research institutes, knowledge-based companies and technology investors, Moghimi stated: In this model, Setfa should not only be a provider of financial support, but should play the role of a connecting link and facilitator; A role that facilitates the process of turning a problem into a technological solution and then turning that solution into a product and market.
He added: The development of the technology market and the export of knowledge-based products are also complementary links of this mission. Technology becomes an economic power when it creates a stable market, continuous income, knowledge-based employment and competitive advantage. Therefore, support for technology marketing, standardization of products, development of sales networks, facilitating the presence of companies in regional and international markets and taking advantage of the capacity of technology diplomacy should be considered in future plans.
Technological authority requires synergy between university, industry, capital and market
In summing up his views, the former president of Tehran University emphasized: The future of Setfa should be based on the principle that technology commercialization is not a one-time activity, but a systematic process based on cooperation between different components of the innovation ecosystem. Setfa can transform the scientific capacities of the country into knowledge-based products, technological employment and stable wealth by playing the role of an intermediate link between science, technology, capital, industry and the market.
Moghimi pointed out: In a world where the competitive advantage of countries is formed more and more based on knowledge, technology and innovation, the ability to transform ideas into products, products into markets, and markets into national wealth is one of the important indicators of countries' authority. Strengthening this path, in addition to developing technological businesses, helps to preserve and use human capital, solve national problems, and strengthen the country's position in the field of global competition.