Metaphorical Assessment of the Health of Cloud Computing Innovation Ecosystems in Iran: A Policy Approach

Ghazinoory, Sepehr; Mokhtarzadeh, Maral; Sarabadani, Abol; Nasri, Shohreh

doi:10.22059/jppolicy.2026.412619.2870

Metaphorical Assessment of the Health of Cloud Computing Innovation Ecosystems in Iran: A Policy Approach

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Sepehr Ghazinoory ¹

Maral Mokhtarzadeh ²

Abol Sarabadani ³

shohreh nasri ⁴

¹ Tarbiat Modares

² Tehran

³ تهران

⁴ سر

10.22059/jppolicy.2026.412619.2870

Abstract

The cloud computing innovation ecosystem in Iran is not only a technical infrastructure, but also a living and self-organizing entity that has grown in an environment full of selective pressures and geopolitical constraints. This article aims to dissect the health of these ecosystems and use biological metaphors to measure the state of sustainability and resilience of this industry against the challenges ahead. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the goal-question-measure model that measured the health of the ecosystems in the form of three macro-indices of “biopower”, “organization”, and “resilience” and 16 operational sub-indices. The originality of this research lies in the transition from linear perspectives to an organic understanding of the Iranian cloud industry. The findings confirm that for these ecosystems to flourish, there is a need to transition from “quantitative dynamic growth” to “structural resilience strength”. This study provides a practical framework for policymakers to prevent systemic disruptions at critical nodes by identifying system blind spots.

Keywords

Innovation ecosystems

Iranian cloud computing

ecosystem health

biological metaphor

systemic resilience

biocapacity

Subjects