https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/ Science and Technology Policy Letters en daily 1 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_23938.html Modern communication technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for digital entrepreneurship by establishing digital platforms and can serve as a driving force for economic and social development in Kermanshah Province. This study aims to design a model of modern communication technologies and the role of digital entrepreneurship in Kermanshah Province, using a mixed-method approach and grounded theory methodology. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 individuals, including managers of online businesses, professors in information technology engineering, technology management, and entrepreneurship departments in Kermanshah Province, and analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin method. The findings indicate that causal factors include (powerful networks for digital life, etc.); intervening factors include (strong foundations of the digital world, etc.); contextual factors include (opening doors to capital for growth, etc.); the core phenomenon includes (modern communication technologies considering the role of digital entrepreneurship); strategies include (intelligent processes with advanced technologies, etc.); and outcomes include (improving efficiency by reducing costs, etc.), all of which play a key role in this model. By leveraging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain, Kermanshah Province can address challenges in areas such as agriculture, industry, and tourism, while creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24105.html This research investigates the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Brand Engagement (BE) in emerging markets, focusing specifically on Iran. The study analyzes the roles of System Performance Expectation (SPE), Human Behavior Recognition/Identification (HBRA), AI Understanding/Perception (IQA), and Adaptive Portfolio Strategy (AIS). Furthermore, it evaluates Digital Knowledge (DK) as a moderating variable. Data were collected from 386 active users of financial digital platforms (e.g., Aap, DigiPay) and brand-focused platforms (e.g., Digikala, Snapp) in major Iranian cities using a 5-point Likert questionnaire. The data was analyzed via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 3, following a stratified cluster sampling method. The validated results indicate that SPE has a significant and positive effect on both HBRA and IQA. HBRA positively influences IQA, AIS, and BE. IQA significantly enhances BE, yet its effect on AIS is found to be negative and negligible. Importantly, Digital Knowledge (DK) positively moderates the relationship between HBRA and IQA, but has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between HBRA and BE. This study underscores the critical importance of system transparency and digital literacy, providing a vital framework for managers operating in emerging markets. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24025.html Technological transhumanism is a movement that has emerged at the intersection of biological and digital advancements, aiming to enhance human capabilities and overcome their limitations through technology. This concept has undergone significant transformations over the years, encompassing various meanings. Utilizing a four-stage systematic review method, this research examines the historical evolution of the concept across three eras: the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and the Digital Age. An analysis of 31 scholarly and historical articles reveals that the Enlightenment, with its emphasis on perfectibility and rationality; the Industrial Revolution, with mechanization and the emergence of enhancement technologies; and the Digital Age, with the convergence of biotechnology (such as genetic engineering) and digital technologies (such as artificial intelligence and brain-computer interfaces), have all contributed to the definition and development of technological transhumanism. Since 2005, with the contributions of Bostrom and advancements in digital technologies—alongside their gradual alignment with biotechnologies—the convergence of these two fields has fostered hybrid perspectives. This has redefined the future human as a bio-digital being and posits that overcoming biological limitations and improving future human life lies in this technological convergence. This convergence, which reflects a maturation and deeper understanding of the complexities of human enhancement, is now regarded as the dominant and prevalent perspective in contemporary research. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24158.html Medicine is considered one of the strategic items in any country. A large part of raw materials and some medicines are imported into our country. In recent years, sanctions have been a factor in serious restrictions on financial transactions, severe exchange rate fluctuations and a significant increase in the inflation rate. In this regard, the allocation of government currency to basic goods, especially medicines, was implemented with the aim of controlling prices. The pharmaceutical plan reviewed these policies.Methodology: Conducting in-depth interviews with experts and stakeholders in the field of medicine, including policymakers in the parliament, insurance, the Food and Drug Administration, the Human Medicines Industry Owners Syndicate, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Syndicate and universities, their opinions were examined. The results were analyzed qualitatively and using the content analysis method.Findings: This study examines the drug plan in four dimensions: process evaluation, outcome evaluation, cost-benefit evaluation, and impact evaluation. The main themes, including "method of formulation and implementation", "stakeholder participation in formulation", effects such as "people's access to drugs", "impact on drug shortages", "eliminating reverse smuggling", "increasing drugs covered by insurance", etc., were examined and evaluated. Conclusion: The items of problem identification and expert studies of the plan, eliminating reverse smuggling, increasing drugs covered by insurance, reducing drug shortages, targeting drug subsidies, preventing waste of foreign exchange resources, preventing rent and eliminating corruption, and in the cost-benefit dimension, it was positive, and in the items of stakeholder participation in formulating the plan, success in implementation, political and financial support, maintaining stability of out-of-pocket payments, and accelerating the payment of insurance debt for drugs, it was negative. Similarly, further research is needed on the issues of using the best solution, people's access to medicine, modifying consumption patterns, reducing induced avoidance, and social justice. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24072.html In recent decades, the expansion of global value chains (GVCs) and the proliferation of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) have had a significant impact on the global economy. These agreements not only reduce trade barriers and facilitate countries’ participation in global value chains, but also provide mechanisms for improving economic governance and domestic policy frameworks. However, the central question remains: how do the depth and content of these agreements influence the extent of countries’ integration into global value chains? This study adopts a qualitative–exploratory approach, employing a systematic literature review based on the Scopus database. Within this framework, key studies were identified and additional relevant papers were collected through the snowball sampling method. Following a two-stage screening process, the initial pool of 32 papers was narrowed down to 10 core studies. Screening was conducted based on language (English), thematic relevance, and conceptual alignment with the research question. The extracted themes were organized into three conceptual categories: (1) content dimensions of trade agreements, (2) indicators of depth and diversity, and (3) implications for global value chains. The findings indicate that the deeper the trade agreements, the stronger their impact on enhancing trade within global value chains. This effect is particularly pronounced in developing countries, where opportunities for specialization within specific segments of the chain are greater. The results suggest that deep agreements can not only accelerate integration into global production networks but also improve countries’ positions within the value chain. Nevertheless, such agreements may impose constraints on domestic policy autonomy. For developing countries such as Iran, these findings carry a clear message: it is not merely the number of agreements that matters, but their content and the precision of their commitments—factors that play a decisive role in the strategic success of integration into global value chains. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_23985.html For better or worse, digital technologies are reshaping everything, from customer behaviors and expectations to organizational and manufacturing systems, business models, markets, and ultimately society. To understand this overarching transformation, this paper extends the previous literature which has focused mostly on the organizational level by developing a multi-level research agenda for digital transformation (DT). In this regard, we propose an extended definition of DT as “a socioeconomic change across individuals, organizations, ecosystems, and societies that are shaped by the adoption and utilization of digital technologies.” We suggest four lenses to interpret the DT phenomenon: individuals (utilizing and adopting digital technologies), organizations (strategizing and coordinating both internal and external transformation), ecosystems (harnessing digital technologies in governance and co-producing value propositions), and geopolitical frameworks (regulating the environments in which individuals and organizations are embedded). Based on these lenses, we build a multi-level research agenda at the intersection between the bright and dark sides of DT and introduce the PIAI framework, which captures a process of perception, interpretation, and action that ultimately leads to possible impact. The PIAI framework identifies a critical research agenda consisting of a non-exhaustive list of topics that can assist researchers to deepen their understanding of the DT phenomenon and provide guidance to managers and policymakers when making strategic decisions that seek to shape and guide the DT. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24126.html In the era of digital transformation and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technologies, entrepreneurial ecosystems are confronted with swift, complex, and unpredictable shifts—conditions that compel science and technology policymakers to design strategies for strengthening these ecosystems. To sustain innovation and continuity in such environments, entrepreneurs require a set of cognitive, technological, and behavioral competencies collectively referred to as digital resilience. Digital resilience is not merely the ability to withstand technological change; rather, it reflects creative adaptability and dynamic learning that enable intelligent coexistence with emerging technologies. Among the essential foundations of digital resilience is critical thinking literacy, which encompasses the ability to analyze data, evaluate algorithmic outputs, identify biases, and integrate human judgment with data-driven decision-making. This study employs a mixed-methods approach. In the first phase, a systematic literature review was conducted based on the PRISMA framework, through which the individual, social, professional, and technological dimensions of digital resilience were identified. In the second phase, using expert insights through the Delphi method and quantitative analyses, the relative importance of each dimension and their relationship with levels of critical thinking literacy were examined. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24149.html The Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by emerging technologies, has created profound transformations in the field of education. Consequently, universities must identify the factors influencing their future pathways and take steps toward adaptation and innovation to ensure long-term success. Accordingly, this study, by focusing on the identification and analysis of the key driving forces shaping the future of Iranian public universities through a futures studies approach, seeks to provide a comprehensive picture that enables higher education policymakers to utilize its findings in revising and transforming policies related to the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. From a purpose perspective, this research is developmental–applied, and in terms of nature, it is descriptive–analytical with an exploratory orientation. A mixed-methods design (qualitative–quantitative) was employed. In the first phase, environmental scanning and semi-structured interviews with experts were conducted, followed by thematic analysis using MAXQDA software, through which 26 major drivers were extracted and categorized based on the STEEPLED model. Subsequently, structural analysis using MICMAC software was performed to assess mutual influences and classify the drivers. The results revealed that among the 26 drivers identified within the context of emerging technologies in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, three are influential, five are bidirectional, twelve are dependent, and six are reactive. The fact that all three influential and dominant drivers belong to the political category clearly underscores the unparalleled role of the country’s political decision-making structure and macro-level governance in shaping the digital transformation of public universities. This reality demonstrates that macro-political orientations function not only as accelerating forces but also as decisive determinants in shaping the future of the higher education system. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24157.html This study was conducted with the aim of explaining the application of biological metaphors in designing innovation strategies for high-technology companies and developing a conceptual framework. The research is classified as applied–developmental and was pursued through a descriptive approach. The research stages consist of qualitative and quantitative sections, both relying on the same research population; the statistical population includes senior managers and experts in the field of innovation in Iran’s high-technology companies. These individuals were identified through science and technology parks, specialized associations, and the list of knowledge-based companies provided by the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, and participants were selected using purposive sampling. After achieving theoretical saturation, 17 experts participated in the interview process. The research was conducted in two qualitative and quantitative phases. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis and MAXQDA software, and the quantitative section was examined using the fuzzy Delphi method. Data analysis led to the identification of 42 sub-themes and 7 main themes. In the results section, the use of biological metaphors was recognized as a powerful approach for reinterpreting, redesigning, and guiding innovation strategies, and this approach enhances the understanding of evolutionary dynamics, gradual adaptation, and networked interactions in innovation. Accordingly, innovation at the individual and team level is linked to the origin and mutation of ideas, at the organizational level it is defined through selection, adaptation, and survival processes, and at the macro and network level it continues through symbiosis, co-evolution, and interactions based on mutual interdependence. The developed conceptual framework has the capacity to strengthen the theoretical foundations of innovation and can serve as a practical tool for managers of high-technology companies to enhance the resilience, dynamism, and sustainability of the innovation system. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24044.html Given the vital role of faculty members in advancing science, technology, and innovation, there is a growing need to revise promotion regulations—particularly in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and the arts. While clear examples of technological activities have been defined for engineering and technical disciplines, no specific framework currently exists for such activities in these fields.This study aims to define and clarify the concepts and instances of technological and innovative activities by faculty members within the spectrum of uncertainties embedded in current promotion regulations. The research seeks to offer a practical framework for incorporating these activities into promotion criteria for the mentioned disciplines.Using the Integral Futures framework and a triangulation method—combining analysis of national and international policy documents, expert focus group discussions, and interviews with key stakeholders—technological activities in the humanities and social sciences were redefined.The findings reveal that it is possible to articulate technological contributions in these fields based on five key indicators: economic impact, social impact, governance relevance, innovation and excellence in outcomes, and outstanding achievements. Based on these indicators, five core clauses and nineteen specific items are proposed for inclusion in faculty promotion guidelines.These results offer a significant step toward equitable evaluation, increased motivation, and better recognition of the real impact of technological and innovative activities in the humanities, social sciences, and the arts. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24172.html This study adopts a systematic approach to examine the concept and dimensions of urban innovation districts as one of the emerging drivers of local development. The primary objective is to identify the key components and dimensions of these districts and to propose a comprehensive framework for understanding their functions in urban development. To achieve this aim, a systematic literature review was conducted using a qualitative content analysis approach and employing the seven-stage PRISMA model. The findings led to the identification of eleven core dimensions of urban innovation districts, including economic, social, environmental, physical–spatial, scientific–educational, human capital, governance systems, innovation infrastructure, innovation networks, legitimacy, and global mission-oriented dimensions. Collectively, these dimensions interact to form a dynamic ecosystem that can serve as an effective model for policymaking and planning toward sustainable urban development. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24179.html The implementation of digital innovations in the public sector—such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs)— requires decisionmakers to engage in learning processes. This article investigates how collective learning processes unfold in collaborative innovation, focusing on the development of Switzerland’s national Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Building on policy learning and collaborative governance literatures, we conceptualize learning as comprising two interdependent processes: policy-oriented learning (focused on technical effectiveness) and power-oriented learning (concerned with political feasibility). Drawing on 39 semi-structured interviews and extensive document analysis, we find that the EHR initiative followed a sequential learning pattern—technical solutions were developed before sufficient political support was secured—leading to a politically endorsed but technically flawed implementation. The study introduces the concept of parallel learning loops to explain how simultaneous engagement with technical and political dimensions can improve innovation outcomes. These findings advance theoretical understanding of collaborative learning in digital government and underscore the need for institutional designs that support concurrent technical and political deliberation in complex innovation processes. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24177.html Equitable and balanced access of rural populations to public services requires the adoption of an appropriate service delivery model by local governments—one that can cover the maximum possible population in sparsely populated and dispersed areas while maintaining quality and minimizing costs. In Iran, the establishment of a point-based service delivery system has led to rural councils (dehyari) acting as local government executors, often providing services independently to villages with more than 20 households, with the quality and quantity of services varying according to each village’s size and characteristics. Against this backdrop, this study examines the acceptance of shared services by rural councils in low-population villages from the perspective of local elites in the counties of Eslamshahr and Robat Karim, aiming to explore the potential of a shared service model in enhancing efficiency and service equity. Using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis, data were collected through 30 semi-structured interviews with managers, council members, and local experts in these counties. Findings indicate that many social, economic, and infrastructural services can be delivered on a shared basis, which may enable cost savings, improved service quality, and strengthened social and economic cohesion in villages. The results also suggest that area-based service delivery can operationalize the economic functions of rural councils—an aspect previously overlooked. However, the success of shared services depends on institutional mechanisms, legal support, and the preparedness of local elites. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24212.html Addressing environmental risks in the energy industry has primarily focused on transitioning to renewable and low-carbon sources, with limited studies emphasizing internal change and innovation within the oil and gas sector. Simultaneously, investment trends and oil and gas demand indicate that full substitution will not be achieved, at least in the medium term. Global indicators, such as the Climate Change Performance Index, also reflect unfavorable conditions for producing countries. This study conducts a systematic review and content analysis of selected articles to identify the components of an integrated policy framework as a basis for formulating coordinated policies and designing feasible action plans aimed at environmental transformation. The findings indicate that the literature is evolving toward "multi-level and dynamic governance" and distinguish six interconnected key dimensions: smart regulation and governance, development of inclusive innovation ecosystems, stimulation of innovation and market development, inclusive and participatory governance, policy adaptability and resilience, and international cooperation in technology transfer. The proposed framework also suggests that effective transformation requires integrating these dimensions into a unified management system. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24226.html This research was conducted with the aim of pathology of the process of policy-making, implementation, and monitoring of quantitative goals in the Seventh Development Plan Law, focusing on indicators in the technology and knowledge-based economy sector. The research method is qualitative and combines library studies, analysis of upstream documents, and semi-structured interviews with experts. The findings indicate a significant gap between the quantitative goals set in Article (93) of the plan and the actual capacities of the country's innovation ecosystem. In this study, the main challenges were identified and categorized into three key areas: 1) Policy Design (lack of harmony in formulating indicators, absence of realistic expectations from the innovation ecosystem, lack of theoretical foundation in goal-setting), 2) Implementation (lack or weakness in providing a roadmap for achievement, existence of structural weaknesses), and 3) Monitoring and Evaluation (lack of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, lack of data collection and governance mechanisms). Analysis of the quantitative indicators in Article (93) of the plan also revealed internal inconsistencies, excessive quantitative focus, and misalignment with baseline data. By proposing strategies in all three aforementioned areas, the present study emphasizes the necessity for a realistic revision of the metrics and strengthening the linkage between policy design, implementation, and evaluation to increase the likelihood of achieving the goals of the Seventh Development Plan. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24227.html Organizations, in light of rapid technological advancements and the expansion of Industry 4.0, have increasingly evolved from purely social systems into complex cyber-physical-social systems. This transformation underscores the necessity of developing an enabling climate to align technological architectures with public interests, transparency, fairness, and ethical considerations. Despite the significance of this issue, existing literature lacks a comprehensive and systematic model that explains the antecedents, processes, and outcomes of an enabling climate in such systems. The purpose of this study is to design a model for developing an enabling climate in organizational cyber-physical-social systems. This research adopts a qualitative, theory-building meta-synthesis approach based on the seven-stage Finfgeld–Connett model. Following a systematic search and screening process, 29 qualitative and mixed-method studies published between 2014 and 2025 were analyzed. The findings indicate that the antecedents of an enabling climate fall into five main domains: human resource characteristics, managerial characteristics, cyber infrastructure, physical infrastructure, and social infrastructure. These antecedents operate through cognitive, ethical, and learning processes such as distributed sensemaking and ethical reflection loops, leading to organizational, social, economic, and political outcomes. Employing a system-of-systems perspective, the final model clarifies the causal relationships among these components and provides a practical framework for managing socio-technical complexity and enhancing human oversight in the age of artificial intelligence. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24228.html In today's competitive world, design and innovation capabilities are the main drivers of industries' sustainability in free zones. However, many nascent industries in these areas face fundamental challenges in establishing an innovation system. This research aims to diagnose the design and innovation processes in home appliance manufacturers located in the Aras Free Trade-Industrial Zone. The research approach is qualitative, and the method used is grounded theory. Participants included managers and experts in the home appliance industry in the Aras region, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 20 people using purposive sampling based on the saturation criterion. Data analysis was performed in three stages of open, axial, and selective coding using MAXQDA software. The results showed that the central phenomenon of the research is "stagnation and weakness in the maturity of innovative design," which indicates the dominance of imitative approaches over radical innovations. Causal factors included "lack of specialized design body, weak links with the global supply chain, budget constraints and weak investment, and the effects of sanctions and import restrictions." Inhibiting contextual factors were explained in the form of "equipment obsolescence, weak cooperation and support, and institutional complexity and bureaucratic weakness." Also, "the multiplicity of decision-making institutions and complex bureaucracy" act as intervening conditions. To overcome this situation, strategies such as "providing financial incentives, establishing specialized design consortia, and establishing technology transfer platforms" were identified. Finally, the consequences of implementing these strategies will be reflected in the form of "diversifying the product portfolio with high added value, and promoting the position of domestic brands in export markets." https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24257.html Innovation today holds a distinctive position in economic policymaking, and innovations emerge within innovation systems. One of Iran’s sectoral innovation systems is the art–industry of machine made carpets. Despite its prominent status in the National Master Plan for Science and Technology, this industry has not met expectations in international exports. In this study, system dynamics methodology was employed to analyze the structure and improve the international export performance of machine made carpets, given the complexity and fluctuations inherent in innovation systems.After constructing the model, 15 simulation experiments were conducted. The results indicate that none of the single dimension policies (such as entrepreneurship attractiveness alone or customer retention alone) are capable of producing the expected leap in global competitiveness. Rather, the combined positive effects of multiple engines of innovation constitute the key to successful innovation development. For example, in the pessimistic scenario, the combined strategy (Scenario 15) yields an international export share of 46.8 percent, which is significantly higher than any of the single dimension scenarios (with shares ranging from 3.92 to 30.66 percent).Under single dimension policymaking conditions, the average outcomes of the three policy categories are as follows: entrepreneurship attractiveness at 29.19 percent, customer retention at 6.16 percent, enhancement of coalition activities at 5.51 percent, and knowledge diffusion at 3.92 percent. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24268.html Economic and trade sanctions, as one of the most important foreign policy tools of major powers, have extensive impacts on the international trade structure of targeted countries. Iran’s petrochemical industry, as the country’s second-largest source of foreign exchange earnings, is among the sectors heavily exposed to these sanctions. The present study aims to analyze the impact of economic and trade sanctions on Iran’s trade of petrochemical goods with 21 major trading partners from different geographical regions, including Asian, European, African, and Latin American countries, during the period 2000 to 2022. Using the generalized gravity model of Tinbergen (1962) and Anderson and van Wincoop (2003) and the panel data method with fixed effects, two separate models for petrochemical exports and imports were estimated. The methodological innovation of this research lies in the simultaneous use of two distinct variables to measure the sanction phenomenon: a dummy variable for sanction intensity to distinguish between periods of severe and weak sanctions, and a continuous variable of sanction cost relative to Iran’s GDP. The high coefficient of determination for the export model (0.924) and the import model (0.956) indicates a very favorable fit. The estimation findings show that the traditional variables of the gravity model, including GDP with coefficients of 4.801 and 8.644, geographical distance with coefficients of -1.009 and -0.727, and shared border with coefficients of 0.705 and 1.037, in the export and import models respectively, are all significant and show the expected theoretical signs. The most important finding of the research is the negative and significant impact of both sanction variables on petrochemical trade; such that the coefficient of sanction cost for imports (-1.008) is approximately three times its coefficient for exports (-0.312), indicating the much higher vulnerability of the import supply chain to sanctions. https://stpl.ristip.sharif.ir/article_24269.html A significant portion of public and platform-based decision-making, previously anchored in human judgment, has increasingly been delegated to algorithmic scoring systems. This study offers a critical assessment of algorithmic scoring systems as an emerging paradigm of datafied governance within the dual realms of the state and digital markets. Drawing upon a transdisciplinary theoretical framework—comprising contextual integrity, procedural legitimacy, and legal anthropology—the paper analyzes the rights-based approach of the European Union in contrast to China’s order-centric utilitarianism, while diagnosing the structural pathologies of commercial platforms, including systemic data bias and the inherently biased nature of human feedback. The findings demonstrate that the logic of scoring erodes the traditional boundaries between public sovereignty and private authority, leveraging numerical authority to challenge institutional accountability. Finally, to facilitate a transition toward an effective regulatory model, this paper proposes a tiered and systemic framework consisting of five legitimizing normative conditions: meaningful transparency, effective contestability, functional equivalence, meaningful human oversight, and contextual integrity. Ultimately, this framework establishes an intelligent architecture for safeguarding individual rights and the rule of law in the algorithmic era.