Identifying and ranking factors affecting the success of information and communication technology innovation ecosystem

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran

10.22091/stim.2024.10508.2074

Abstract

Purpose: Given the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in economic and social development and the global movement toward knowledge-based societies, the importance of innovation in this field is paramount. In Iran, despite ICT innovation policies and the emphasis on ICT innovation in upstream documents—such as the Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the Horizon 1404—statistics unfortunately indicate persistent weaknesses in ICT innovations. Evidence of this includes ranking 125th in ICT service exports based on the 2021 Global Innovation Index, as well as the gap between Iran's ICT share of gross domestic product (GDP) and the global economic average in 2019. Because innovation does not occur in isolation and is the result of collaboration among various actors within an innovation ecosystem, this study aims to identify and prioritize the factors influencing the success of the ICT innovation ecosystem in Iran.
Methodology: First, through a literature review and 12 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2023, the critical success factors of the ICT innovation ecosystem were identified. A fuzzy Delphi questionnaire was then utilized to assess the relevance of these factors, followed by prioritization using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The questionnaires were completed by 9 academic and policymaking experts, along with 335 ICT companies.
Findings: The literature review identified and categorized the factors affecting the success of the ICT innovation ecosystem into 5 main criteria—human capital, financial resources, policy, infrastructure, and market issues—encompassing 21 sub-criteria. The findings indicate that expert teams possessing technical, financial, R&D, and management skills play a vital role in gaining market share. Financing through venture capital and long-term loans is also critical for ICT business growth. Alongside financing and human capital, facilitating access to financial resources and providing business advisory services to ICT company owners are essential. Infrastructure preparation—including technical prerequisites (hardware and software) and innovation infrastructures—represents another major driver of business growth. Furthermore, advertising, marketing skills, and economic analysis (such as profit estimation and return on investment) were identified as key influential factors. Following the literature review and interviews, four additional factors were incorporated based on expert opinions: 1) the potential for international collaboration; 2) the availability of market and commercialization specialists; 3) the presence of legal experts; and 4) the implementation of ICT by public organizations.
Conclusion: Considering financial and policy criteria as among the most critical success factors for the ICT innovation ecosystem, several measures can foster innovation in the ICT sector. These include developing policies for easier access to financial facilities, fostering networks with foreign technology companies, ensuring the presence of specialized commercialization experts in the ICT field, and streamlining the establishment of ICT startups.

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References

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Sciences and Techniques of Information Management
Volume 12, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 30-49

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