Structural Modeling of Properties and Factors Affecting Science and Technology Collaborative Policy Network in Iran

The aim of this research is structural modeling the properties and factors affecting the science and technology collaborative policy network in Iran. The research data were collected in both qualitative and quantitative stages. In the qualitative phase, exploratory and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 experts, and in the quantitative phase, 100 questionnaires were distributed among the experts. Structural equation modeling using partial least squares (PLS) method has also been used to analyze the data. The results of the research show that the Science and Technology Collaborative Policy Network in Iran has 17 features in four dimensions, in order of importance: actors, codes of conduct, relationships between actors and network structure. There are also eight factors affecting the network in three dimensions, in order of importance: specific science and technology policy factors, national factors, and international factors. The most important policy recommendation of this study is attention to these factors by two groups of audiences: the government and the S&T policymakers.