Drivers of maturity in Iranian technology parks

Purpose This study aims to examine what drives the maturity of Iranian technology parks, with a focus on the long-standing gap between university research and the needs of domestic industry that has limited their economic impact. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was developed from prior studies and distributed to managers and experts working in Iranian technology parks and incubators. Respondents came from 20 provinces, including major sites such as Isfahan Science and Research Town and Pardis Technology Park. Their evaluations of four proposed maturity drivers – objective orientation, location, support and networking – were analyzed using statistical tests suited to the question formats. Findings The results confirmed the importance of all four drivers, with clear contrasts emerging across every dimension. In terms of objectives, national needs, industrial engagement and exports were consistently ranked as priorities, while academic outputs such as patents and publications were marginalized. In support mechanisms, services that enable commercialization (e.g. networking, legal advisory and technology transfer) were rated as far more valuable than traditional subsidies or in-house Research and Development. For networking, strong ties to industry, tenant firms and financial institutions were emphasized, whereas relationships with universities, public agencies or other parks were considered less decisive. Location followed the same pattern: industrially embedded sites were viewed as more effective than purely academic or stand-alone settings. Originality/value By empirically validating four maturity drivers, this study provides evidence on how Iran’s technology parks can shift from academic prestige toward industrial integration and commercialization.