Proposing, Validating and Analyzing the Functional Model for Innovation Intermediaries: Case Study of Iranian Science and Technology Parks

Intermediary organizations are amongst key players in the national innovation system which facilitate the process of innovation in various fields by carrying out various functions and coordinate interactions between different actors of this system. Existing theoretical background stated different functions and roles for innovation intermediaries, resulting in relatively extensive literature in this area. This study aims to show the qualitative synthesis of the findings of previous studies and to propose a comprehensive classification for the functions of intermediary organizations. This paper, with an in-depth review of more than 50 papers and adapting a qualitative approach, identifies and presents a framework for intermediary’s functions which includes 5 main functions and 31 activities. The framework encompasses five general categories: Mediating and Linking, Knowledge and Information Provider, Bridging and Networking, Technological and Innovative Service Provider, Identification and Provide Resource and market. The framework is validated by S&T policy making experts and conducting six case studies on different types of intermediary organization in the national innovation system. Finally, the Shannon entropy method was used to determine the coefficients of effect the identified functions, which “technological and innovative service provider” and “Mediating and Linking” functions, “technological intermediation and demand articulation” and “facilitating the creation, management, and integration of networks” activities have the most impact, respectively.