A Study on Technology Acquisition Manners and Sources in Selected Iranian Small Enterprises

The importance of SMEs is highly recognized for economical development. This study is about technology acquisition in small sized enterprises in selected industries in Iran with the view to highlight sources and methods mostly used by these enterprises in acquiring technologies. The significance of the issue raised here is apparent in the light of growing policy concern on the importance of SMEs in economic growth and technology development. The findings of this research show that in addition to "informal R&D" that all firms were concerned, "the purchase of machinery from local industrial companies" was the most popular method of technology acquisition adopted by the enterprises. "Consultation services received from engineering companies" was the second most frequent mechanisms of technology acquisition and "purchase of license right" and "R&D outsourcing" was the least popular one. The evidence shows that there was very low level of interaction between studied firms and universities or research institutes.