Designing a Policy Mix to Overcome Systemic Failures in Iran's National Innovation System

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Master of Management of Technology, Faculty of Department of Management and Accounting, University of Tehran (College of Farabi), Qom, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Management of Technology, Faculty of Department of Management and Accounting, University of Tehran (College of Farabi), Qom, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of Management, National Research Institute for Science Policy, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The existence of various systemic failures in Iran’s national innovation system underscores the necessity of precise and targeted policymaking to overcome these deficiencies. However, given the increasing complexity of policy issues, it is essential to design a policy mix whose instruments interact synergistically to achieve the greatest possible positive impact on policy objectives. In this study, drawing on expert opinions and employing thematic analysis, the systemic failures of Iran’s innovation system were identified and classified into twelve categories. Subsequently, through document analysis, a comprehensive set of policy instruments was collected to address these failures and design an appropriate policy mix. The proposed mix encompasses twelve overarching policy goals corresponding to the twelve categories of systemic failures, forty-three specific policy objectives aligned with major failures, and a combination of 111 policy instruments. The findings indicate that the proposed instruments exhibit substantial internal consistency and synergistic effects, and that emphasizing non-financial policies and institutional reforms yields greater effectiveness under conditions of fiscal constraint. Based on the results, it is recommended that innovation policymaking focus on enhancing synergies among instruments, reforming soft institutions, and continuously evaluating policy mixes, thereby moving toward a dynamic, coordinated, and learning-oriented policy mix.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 11, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 33-55

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