Factor Analysis on Challenges and Strategies of Commercialization of Agricultural Research Achievements

The commercialization of knowledge and technology, as a link between research and the market, is an effort to monetize innovation, which is currently highly regarded in the knowledge-based economy. The main purpose of this research was to identify the challenges of commercialization of agricultural research achievements in the field of agricultural sciences as well as the strategies to facilitate and accelerate their commercialization. 

The statistical population of this study consisted of all faculty members of research institutes related to agricultural sciences in Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) (N=263) and the chief executive officers (CEOs) of companies contracted with the concerned research institutions (N=91). This descriptive-correlation study was conducted in 2021 using survey method. Questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis technique by principal component analysis method and the most important challenges as well as strategies to facilitate the commercialization of knowledge and technology in the agricultural sector were identified, classified and prioritized. 

Challenges in the development of commercialization of research achievements of AREEO from the perspective of the studied researchers and faculty members of the institutions were identified and categorized in seven factors, including: "the nature of technologies", "weaknesses in laws, regulations and government support policies", "weaknesses in the education system", "weaknesses in the policy, management and manpower of institutions and centers", "weak information structure and interaction with the private sector", "AREEO's weak commercialization policy", and " feeling unnecessary thr need for commercialization". Commercialization challenges of the AREEO's research achievements in the field of crop sciences identified from the perspective of CEOs of private companies were categorized into six factors including: "weaknesses in government support policies, laws and regulations", "weak information structure and interaction with the private sector", "nature of technologies", "restrictions on the activities of international companies in Iran", "weakness in capability of private companies" and "AREEO's weak commercialization policies". The strategies to facilitate the commercialization of research achievements were also categorized in six factors, including: "strengthening the information system and increasing interaction with the market and the private sector", "strengthening the commercialization capacity of technologies", "strengthening government support for commercialization", "human resource development and organizational structure in institutions", "private sector support to increase their investment" and "revision of the AREEO's commercialization policies". The strategies suggested by the respondents were also grouped in four factors, including: "strengthening government support for commercialization", "strengthening the information system and increasing interaction with the market and the private sector", "strengthening the commercialization of technologies" and "participating in the empowerment of private companies". 

Increasing communication and interaction between AREEO as a public organization with the active companies in agriculture, in addition to aligning the market needs with the research conducted in the public sector, can also lead to an increase in the productivity of research in the public sector. In addition, the removal of internal obstacles of production and commercialization, and the improved business environment are among the necessary government supports for the development of commercialization of research activities. Finally, suggestions were proposed and discussed to improve the commercialization of research achievements based on the identified challenges.