The Necessity of Promoting Technology Commercialization in Iran’s Universities of Medical Sciences: A Policy Brief

Masoumeh Ebrahimi Tavani; Tahmineh Poursaki; Farid Gharibi

doi:10.5812/koomesh-153982

Sign in

Koomesh

Journal of Semnan University of Medical Sciences

e-ISSN 2345-3699

p-ISSN 1608-7046

Cover image of the article: The Necessity of Promoting Technology Commercialization in Iran’s Universities of Medical Sciences: A Policy Brief

Image Credit:koomesh

Outline

Abstract
References
Copyright

https://doi.org/10.69107/koomesh-153982

The Necessity of Promoting Technology Commercialization in Iran’s Universities of Medical Sciences: A Policy Brief

Authors

Masoumeh Ebrahimi Tavani¹, Tahmineh Poursaki², Farid Gharibi

^3,*

1Faculty Member, Center of Health Network Management, Deputy of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran

2Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

*Corresponding Author: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Email: [email protected]

Koomesh:Vol. 26, issue 1; e153982

Published online:Sep 14, 2024

Article type:Research Article

How to Cite:Ebrahimi Tavani M, Poursaki T, Gharibi F. The Necessity of Promoting Technology Commercialization in Iran’s Universities of Medical Sciences: A Policy Brief. koomesh. 2024;26(1):e153982. doi: https://doi.org/10.69107/koomesh-153982

Abstract

Background: Technology commercialization is a critical link between universities, industry, and society because it creates added value and contributes to organizations' sustainability and nations' advancement. Existing studies indicate that technology commercialization is a highly complex and risky endeavor; therefore, addressing all influencing factors can enhance the likelihood of success in this domain.

Method: In this study, after conducting situation analysis and identifying existence shortcomings, the practical suggestions were offered.

Results: Evidence suggests that medical universities in Iran face significant challenges related to the context, input, process, output, and outcomes of technology commercialization.

Conclusions: Prolonged persistence of these issues might result in the inefficient distribution of resources and a deterioration of the institutions' reputation at both national and international scales. Consequently, Iranian medical universities must design and implement comprehensive, effective interventions to overcome the obstacles they face in this area. In this regard, these universities must continuously monitor and assess internal and external organizational environments, focusing on organizational culture and factors such as legal, industrial, marketing, and general economic conditions. They should work to remove identified barriers and promote a culture that supports creativity and quality. Furthermore, ensuring that the informational, financial, human, and physical resources required for technological commercialization are made available promptly and in an adequate quantity and quality is crucial. Universities should also develop their educational, consultative, communicative, and developmental mechanisms within the framework of strategic and operational programs. Moreover, these universities need to establish mechanisms for the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the quantity and quality of commercialized products and services, as well as to assess their short- and long-term impacts on areas such as domestic and international customer satisfaction, organizational partnerships, job creation, exports, and the economic growth and self-sufficiency of the country.

Highlights

KeywordsTechnology Transfer Medical Sciences Healthcare

Fulltext

The full-text is available in the PDF file.

References

1.
Maira J, Etxabe J, Serena PA. Strategies on Technology Transfer and Patents Commercialization for Nanotechnology at the Spanish National Research Council. Recent Pat Nanotechnol. 2018;12(1):45-58. [PubMed ID:28595563]. https://doi.org/10.2174/1872210511666170601115516.
2.
Mitton C, Adair CE, McKenzie E, Patten SB, Waye Perry B. Knowledge transfer and exchange: review and synthesis of the literature. Milbank Q. 2007;85(4):729-68. [PubMed ID:18070335]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC2690353]. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0009.2007.00506.x.
3.
Geuna A, Muscio A. The governance of university knowledge transfer: A critical review of the literature. Minerva. 2009;47:93-114.
4.
Matsumoto M, Yokota S, Naito K, Itoh J. Development of a model to estimate the economic impacts of R&D output of public research institutes. R&d Management. 2010;40(1):91-100.
5.
Graff GD, Sherkow JS. Models of Technology Transfer for Genome-Editing Technologies. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2020;21:509-34. [PubMed ID:32151165]. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-genom-121119-100145.
6.
Bandarian R. Measuring commercial potential of a new technology at the early stage of development with fuzzy logic. J Technol Management Innovation. 2007;2(4):73-85.
7.
Sager M, Yeat NC, Pajaro-Van der Stadt S, Lin C, Ren Q, Lin J. Transcriptomics in cancer diagnostics: developments in technology, clinical research and commercialization. Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2015;15(12):1589-603. [PubMed ID:26565429]. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737159.2015.1105133.
8.
Debackere K, Veugelers R. The role of academic technology transfer organizations in improving industry science links. Res Policy. 2005;34(3):321-42.
9.
Liang W, Elrod S, McFarland DA, Zou J. Systematic analysis of 50 years of Stanford University technology transfer and commercialization. Patterns (N Y). 2022;3(9):100584. [PubMed ID:36124300]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC9481953]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patter.2022.100584.
10.
Waldman DA, Vaulont MJ, Balven RM, Siegel DS, Rupp DE. The role of justice perceptions in formal and informal university technology transfer. J Appl Psychol. 2022;107(8):1397-413. [PubMed ID:34591562]. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000944.
11.
Altarac D, Gutch M, Mueller J, Ronsheim M, Tommasi R, Perros M. Challenges and opportunities in the discovery, development, and commercialization of pathogen-targeted antibiotics. Drug Discov Today. 2021;26(9):2084-9. [PubMed ID:33610472]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.014.
12.
Smith CD. Your idea and your university: issues in academic technology transfer. J Investig Med. 2011;59(5):752-7. [PubMed ID:21245769]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC3660085]. https://doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31820d0fdf.
13.
Rahal AD, Rabelo LC. Assessment framework for the evaluation and prioritization of university inventions for licensing and commercialization. Engin Management J. 2006;18(4):28-36.
14.
Gomes MAS, Kovaleski JL, Pagani RN, Zammar G. Government Initiative in Brazilian Public Health: A Technology Transfer Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(17). [PubMed ID:31438488]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC6747451]. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173012.
15.
Froese KA, Montgomery J. From research to practice: the process of training school psychologists as knowledge transfer professionals. Procedia-Soc Behav Sci. 2014;141:375-81.
16.
Bubela TM, Caulfield T. Role and reality: technology transfer at Canadian universities. Trends Biotechnol. 2010;28(9):447-51. [PubMed ID:20598388]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2010.06.002.
17.
Caulfield T, Ogbogu U. The commercialization of university-based research: Balancing risks and benefits. BMC Med Ethics. 2015;16(1):70. [PubMed ID:26464028]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC4605102]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-015-0064-2.
18.
Jahadinaeini M, Dehghan H. [Design and construction of evaporative local cooling coatings and evaluate their efficiency in improving some perceptual indicators in laboratory conditions]. Koomesh. 2022;24(6):776-84. Persian.
19.
Khorshidi S, Karkhaneh A. [Design and synthesizing appropriate carrier for release of dexamethasone as an anticancer drug]. Koomesh. 2024;22(3):389-95. Persian.
20.
Jiang H, Ruan J. Investment risks assessment on high-tech projects based on analytic hierarchy process and BP neural network. J Networks. 2010;5(4):393.
21.
Bühnemann J, Burchhardt S. An Indicator-Based Determination of Commercialization Potential of Research Institutions. J Small Business Entrepreneurship Dev. 2015;3(1):19.
22.
Iqbal AM, Iqbal S, Khan AS, Senin AA. A novel cost efficient evaluation model for assessing research-based technology transfer between university and industry. Sains Humanika. 2013;64(2).
23.
Razavi M, Emami H. [Commercialization of research projects in the school of pharmacy at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences during 2002-2012]. Res Med. 2014;37(4). Persian.
24.
Gholami J, Majdzadeh R, Nedjat S, Nedjat S, Maleki K, Ashoorkhani M, et al. How should we assess knowledge translation in research organizations; designing a knowledge translation self-assessment tool for research institutes (SATORI). Health Res Policy Syst. 2011;9:10. [PubMed ID:21342517]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC3053266]. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-9-10.
25.
Majdzadeh R, Nejat S, Fotouhi A, Afzali MH. Iran’s approach to knowledge translation. Iran J Public Health. 2009;38(1):58-62.
26.
Nikoueghbal A, Valibeigi H. [Technology Transfer in Developing Countries, Challenges and Strategies: Case Study of Iran's Auto Industry]. Iran Econom Rev. 2005;10(14):57-78. Persian.
27.
Hemmati H, Ghorbani R, Hossein-Zadeh B, Ebrahim-Zadeh H, Shakeri S. [The Effect of Single Dose of Dexamethasone on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy]. J Babol Univ Med Sci. 2014;16(11):15-21. Persiaan. https://doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.jbums.16.11.15.
28.
Sung TK. Technology transfer in the IT industry: A Korean perspective. Technol Forecasting Soc Change. 2009;76(5):700-8. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2008.03.011.
29.
Lai W-H, Tsai C-T. Fuzzy rule-based analysis of firm’s technology transfer in Taiwan’s machinery industry. Expert Syst Appl. 2009;36(10):12012-22.
30.
Nijboer F. Technology transfer of brain-computer interfaces as assistive technology: barriers and opportunities. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2015;58(1):35-8. [PubMed ID:25595535]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2014.11.001.
31.
Kaur IP, Kakkar V, Deol PK, Yadav M, Singh M, Sharma I. Issues and concerns in nanotech product development and its commercialization. J Control Release. 2014;193:51-62. [PubMed ID:24933600]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.06.005.

Copyright

© 2024, Author(s). This open-access article is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which allows for unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.

Outline

The Necessity of Promoting Technology Commercialization in Iran’s Universities of Medical Sciences: A Policy Brief

Abstract

Highlights

Fulltext

References

Copyright

Similar Articles

Challenges and Barriers to Commercialization of Health Sciences Research Results: A Qualitative Study

Evaluation of the commercialization of the academic research and development

Challenges of Entering Health-Related Equipment and Technologies Into the Domestic Market in Iran: A Systematic Review of Evidence

Status of Innovation in Central Libraries of Iranian Medical Universities

The association between knowledge creation and organizational innovation in Tehran University of Medical Sciences