Formulation and application of a framework for assessing ICT-based startups’ ecosystem in Ilam Province

The purpose of this applied research was to formulate and apply a framework for assessing the ecosystem of ICT startup businesses in Ilam province using an exploratory mixed methodology. In the first phase, based on the formulations of the focus group and with the participation of 14 ICT key informants, a framework for three levels of ecosystem components, dimensions and indicators, and seven components (policy, finance, culture, support, human capital, market and Environmental attractiveness) was identified. In the second phase, using the AHP method, the importance degree of each dual criterion of the importance and accessibility amount was calculated and then by using the weights obtained, the identified indicators in the first phase, ranked by the using TOPSIS model. Respondents at this phase were also former participants in focus group who were selected among the ICT startup ecosystem stakeholders in Ilam province through purposeful sampling. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the findings of the first phase. Assessing the status of the ICT- based startups ecosystem showed that there is the highest gap in dimensions of the government, insurance and tax, financial capital, cultural role models, support services and startup network