The challenges of commercialization of high-tech products studied in the nanomaterials and equipment industry

Bachelor

Master

Business Management

International Business Orientation

Abstract

Nowadays, nanoscience, which has not been more than a few decades since its inception, is becoming a fundamental revolution; A science that with its fundamental capabilities and interdisciplinary nature will revolutionize all aspects of human life in the short term, and the proof of this is the investment of the world's top powers in this field of technology. Our country, Iran, has the ninth place in the field of nanotechnology and the eighth place in terms of science production in this field in the world, but the value of these scientific products is when they can be converted into products needed by the market and sold; Otherwise, all the efforts made and the time and money spent by a large group of agents will all be wasted. Therefore, in this research, the author intends to examine the challenges affecting the commercialization of products in the field of nanomaterials and equipment.

This research is applied in terms of purpose and quantitative in terms of method, and a simple random sampling technique has been used to collect information from the statistical community; By analyzing the findings of the questionnaires with the help of confirmatory factor analysis, T-test and Friedman's test, the ranking of the most important challenges affecting the commercialization of products in the field of nanomaterials and equipment was determined as follows: human resource challenges, financial challenges, research and development challenges, infrastructure challenges and finally market challenges. Of course, in the supplementary analyzes carried out for each of the two groups of nanomaterials and equipment industry, the challenge of manpower in equipment companies moved to the second rank and the financial challenges took the first rank, the reason for which can be found in the expensiveness of this industry. Research

Introduction

In this chapter, which is dedicated to stating the generalities of the research, firstly, it stated the research problem and the importance and necessity of the subject, and then the main and secondary questions of the research. Hypotheses and objectives of the research are presented. After that, the general research method is stated, which includes the spatial and temporal domain, sampling method, methods of data collection and analysis. At the end, the obstacles and limitations of the research are presented and after presenting the theoretical macro-framework, we arrive at the conceptual model of the research. At the end of the chapter, the words and terms used in the research are explained.

1-1 statement of the problem

The country of Iran has the ninth place in the field of nanotechnology in the world and the eighth place in terms of science production in this field in the world; However, currently, the commercialization of products in this area has a slow process due to the existence of many challenges. Therefore, it can be said that all these valuable scientific productions will find their meaning and concept when we can present and sell the products produced in this field in the market; Because there is often a gap that is often referred to as the "valley of death" between innovations and inventions and turning them into a product that can be presented in the market. Today, both newly established companies and established companies are somehow trying to cross this "valley of death" (Pfautsch, 2007).

Obstacles and challenges in the commercialization of products in this area, whose great potential in changing various aspects of life have been proven, limit our abilities to use the full capacities of nanotechnology, which causes delays in economic growth, achieving wealth and creating numerous jobs. In general, standards and quality of life are improved (McNeil, 2007). Therefore, as mentioned, despite the rapid growth and development of many technologies in recent years, their commercialization is practically the most important obstacle to the development of these technologies, and nanotechnology is no exception.In the commercialization of a research program, various factors such as infrastructure, culture, management and economy may hinder its process by creating challenges (Nasseri and Farqani, 86); Also, market readiness, legislative uncertainties, health and safety, workforce readiness, public attitudes and perceptions, standards and production capability are considered effective in the process of nano commercialization challenges (McNeil, 2007). In the field of nano agriculture in Iran, infrastructural, economic, social and managerial challenges also affect this process (Hosseini, 85).

As it was observed, due to the important nature of the subject, research has been conducted both inside and outside the country, each of which has considered commercialization from a specific perspective, but the noteworthy point is that the field of nanotechnology is very broad and the obstacles and challenges may be different from one company to another. (Ratner, 2004). Therefore, all nano fields should not be treated the same because the business opportunities are different and some areas may have slower or faster growth. The field of nanomaterials and equipment is not exempt from this and has unique characteristics that require separate attention; On the other hand, despite the fact that this field includes a major part of nano industries and is the basis for other nano fields, it has received less research; Therefore, due to the importance of the matter, the writer has to study the challenges facing the commercialization of products in this area of ??the nano industry with a more detailed look. Our country, Iran, has many potential talents that can improve its position and position in the international arena, because we know that the sustainable growth of every country and every nation depends on the power of thought and the capable hands of its human resources.

One of the emerging fields in the field of science and technology, which is growing more and more today, is nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a general and comprehensive technology or in other words interdisciplinary technology that is used in many other technologies and creates transformation in many of them. Among the positive effects of this technology, the following can be mentioned:

Significant effects on people's well-being and life

The significant effect of nanotechnology on security and defense

Its impact on environmental protection

Nowadays nano, like other agricultural and industrial revolutions of the past, is called a new industrial revolution; Because it has the potential of transformation in different social, personal, economic and political dimensions. In such a way that experts have likened it to an "oil well for the future".

The huge investments of big countries such as America and Japan on this nascent industry also indicate that in today's society even the prosperity of the most advanced economies is at risk and the only way to curb this situation is to take over knowledge-based economies and successfully interact with the convergence of science and technology (Lindstone, 2011); Because it is no longer possible to generate wealth in the modern world with old tools.

On the other hand, taking into account the fact that our country has an economy dependent on oil and oil is one of the perishable natural resources, and today, despite the sanctions, the country's economic conditions have become difficult, the need to deal with knowledge industries dependent on the capable thinking of the rich human resources in the country is becoming more apparent. Hijri Shamsi has also clearly emphasized the necessity of this matter: "Iran is a developed country with the first economic, scientific and technological position in the region with an Islamic and revolutionary identity inspiring in the Islamic world and with constructive and effective interaction in international relations". This issue also shows the necessity of technology development and its growth to achieve the goals of the program. This issue clearly shows the importance and necessity of paying attention to the issue of commercialization of indigenous technologies of the country. This document looks at the future, not as a place where Iran is going, but as a place where Iranians create it (Saber, 2009).

The commercialization of nanotechnology is also important in terms of public sector investment.