Comparative Analysis on Knowledge-Oriented Development Process in Iran Regions

The innovation and knowledge creation is a vital and extensive research area in the contemporary regional development planning. Many countries have realized the importance of this issue and have tried to strengthen the knowledge-based sectors of the economy. As well, we have taken steps to a knowledge-based development in the past years in Iran. Consequently, some changes in the country and the role of the Provinces in the process of this change are being emerged. Considering these changes, the main objective of this paper is to assess and compare the role of knowledge in the 31 Iran Provinces to realize the role and importance of knowledge in each Province. This study, with descriptive-analytical research method and using available statistical data (mostly the year 1390), by using fuzzy and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis tools in ArcGIS as well as SPSS analytical tools, has investigated the implications of these changes and attempts to determine the position of the each Province in the process of knowledge-based development. For this purpose, according to the criteria used in similar studies, as well as with regard to access to data and information relating to these measures, 15 indicators were selected in 4 index groups. Accordingly, 31 provinces were ranked and classified into six clusters using cluster analysis. The results show that there is a sever imbalance between the Provinces in potential of the knowledge-based development. Tehran, far from other provinces, is in the first place, and then the provinces of Qom, Isfahan, and Semnan are located in rank 2 to 4. Also, at the bottom of the ranking table, three provinces of Kurdistan, Sistan and Baluchistan, and North Khorasan are located in 29 to 31 places, respectively. This trend reflects the formation of center-periphery relations in the spatial knowledge-based development that implies the necessity of reviewing policies and programs among policymakers to reduce the gaps between county’s regions.