JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Year:2010 | Volume:2 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

In this paper we reviewed different approaches about road mapping in educational systems and studied the researches about using system dynamics approaches in science and technology studies. Then we introduced this approach as a suitable approach for developing roadmaps in higher educational systems. We modeled a subsystem about transmission between academic majors with system dynamic approach. After testing the model with different statistical techniques, we identified and analyzed the behavior of these majors. We also showed the ability of the model in developing and evaluating different policies for the future. At the end of the paper we presented software that is designed and implemented for this purpose.

Increasing total productivity of factors is an issue of upmost concern for economists in economic growth process. Recent developments in the theory of neoclassical economic growth identify knowledge as an important contributing factor to productivity growth. This paper examines the long-run relationship between variables contributing to knowledge and economic growth in Iran during 1968- 2007. We use the Johansen method of co-integration and the error correction (VEC) model. The results show the existence of a long-run equilibrium relationship between economic growth and variables representing knowledge in the Iranian economy and also the positive effect of all these variables on the economic growth. In addition, coefficient of ECM is negative and small, implying slow adjustment towards the long-run equilibrium level.

Critical assessment of social changes and the impact of factors which, through their mutual interactions, shape the outlooks and ways of life of people and societies are among the major concerns of contemporary philosophers who would like to use their theoretical knowledge to tackle applied problems. In the present paper we try to assess, from a philosophical and critical point of view based on Critical Rationalism, some of the socio-cultural impacts of wide-ranging changes caused due to unprecedented developments in the converging sciences & technologies. The first part of the paper deals with a brief introduction of the notion of the fourth wave of scientific and technologies development due to developments in the following four fields: Nano, Bio, Info, and Cogno (NBIC). In the second part of the paper we discuss some of the most important socio-cultural consequences of the developments in NBIC sciences and technologies. The main aim of this philosophical investigation is to consider the options open to modern man vis-à-vis new developments in sciences and technologies. In the last part of the paper some policy recommendations with regard to the issues discussed are introduced. It is hoped that the proposed recommendations prove to be useful for the policy-makers in Iran.

Using of scientific methods for budgeting of institutes is necessary because of Importance and deficit of budget. The aim of this article is to introduce a model for research and technology institutes budgeting based on science and technology outputs cost. For that, firstly, we studied on science and technology outputs indicators and used institutes' opinions for finalizing and weighting them. Then we measured the science and technology outputs using AHP method. At last we designed a model for research and technology institutes budgeting based on science and technology outputs cost, using last year budget of institutes, amount of science and technology outputs at the same year, science and technology outputs unit cost at last year and its mode and the rate of inflation in last year.

Many researchers have emphasized on the importance of knowledge commercialization for universities’ survival. Also the process of commercial exploitation of universities’ intellectual properties and academic entrepreneurship often is confronted with some problems and barriers that should be identified and eliminated. Hence in this paper, we try to identify the main barriers to this process in Tehran University, using expert consultation. According to results of this survey, “Bureaucracy and inflexibility of university’s management system” and “lack of networks and communications among academians, industrialist and investors”, were identified as the most important barriers to knowledge commercialization in this university from expert’s viewpoint. Other barriers including “cultural differences between academians and industrialists”, “weakness of intellectual property rights in national level”, “dependency of university to the governmental budgets”, “lack of university awareness from needs and preferences of business sector” and “lack of university’s motivation for commercialization” were placed in subsequent ranks. Finally, we suggested several university and government-oriented improvements in order to eliminate these barriers.

According to the importance of technological capability in economic growth and enhancing welfare of countries, the subject of technological capability evaluation is marked particularly over recent years. Various international models related to technological capability evaluation have been designed and introduced. Regarding to inherent specifications of these indices which have got some defects, in this study it is tried to introduce a composite index in this field considering existent experiences for evaluating technological capabilities of countries more precisely in various aspects. Also it is tried that a more applicable index for various countries especially developing ones which have got an unbalanced development mostly is designed by provision of the logical weights resulting from the application of factor analysis.In this study, 17 indicators were selected among 37 valid international indicators in the field of technological capability. In the following, these indicators were put in 3 aspects on the basis of factor analysis and then specific weights were assigned to these aspects and indicators. Finally, based on these indicators in the 3 aspects, the index of World Technological Capability Monitoring was established and introduces. Technological capability levels of 69 countries along with Iran were investigated. In this evaluation, in spite of acceptable situation in aspects of technology development infrastructure and innovation capability, Iran faces serious problems in the aspect of investment quality. At last it should be mentioned that composite index for technological capability monitoring adds new abilities to other international indexes in case of technology capability evaluation.

The importance of SMEs is highly recognized for economical development. This study is about technology acquisition in small sized enterprises in selected industries in Iran with the view to highlight sources and methods mostly used by these enterprises in acquiring technologies. The significance of the issue raised here is apparent in the light of growing policy concern on the importance of SMEs in economic growth and technology development. The findings of this research show that in addition to "informal R&D" that all firms were concerned, "the purchase of machinery from local industrial companies" was the most popular method of technology acquisition adopted by the enterprises. "Consultation services received from engineering companies" was the second most frequent mechanisms of technology acquisition and "purchase of license right" and "R&D outsourcing" was the least popular one. The evidence shows that there was very low level of interaction between studied firms and universities or research institutes.