The Survey of Research Situation in Iran and Suggestion for Research Policies and Goals of Fifth Development Plan

The Prerequisite of Compilation of every mid – and long term plan, such as research part of fifth development plan of Iran, needs considering precisely the quality and quantity elements of current situation (ICSPS). According to the study of international council of science policy, the first step is determining the "science and technology base" for every country. So, this article begins from this stage and next compiles ideas for future policies and goals. The essay is an exploratory survey in higher education system in Iran to compile university managers’ opinion by intentional and non-probability sampling method. Document also uses statistical surveys for studying current situation. The findings are summarized in 3 sections:  Description of the macro statistical situation of research in Iran in 3 groups: input, process and output indices.  Compilation the SWOT matrix for research according to the opinion of Iranian University managers.  Providing compiled ideas, and for goal setting in fifth development plan of Iran. According to the statistical findings; by considering R&D density index, Iran has an independent science and technology base (group c), but noticing other economic indices, it is in the group B (countries that have essential factors of S and T). This problem shows separation among research and production in Iran. Although the growth of quantitative research indices, (except research budget) is fairly good, but we see some budgeting imbalance. The collection of suggestion in scientific centers in Iran shows that the manager of these centers prefer "influential policy" over "mission policy" in science and technology.