The Necessity of Promoting Technology Commercialization in Iran's Universities of Medical Sciences: A Policy Brief.

Technology commercialization is a critical link between universities, industry, and society because it creates added value and contributes to organizations' sustainability and nations' advancement. Existing studies indicate that technology commercialization is a highly complex and risky endeavor; therefore, addressing all influencing factors can enhance the likelihood of success in this domain. In this study, after conducting situation analysis and identifying existence shortcomings, the practical suggestions were offered. Evidence suggests that medical universities in Iran face significant challenges related to the context, input, process, output, and outcomes of technology commercialization. Prolonged persistence of these issues might result in the inefficient distribution of resources and a deterioration of the institutions' reputation at both national and international scales. Consequently, Iranian medical universities must design and implement comprehensive, effective interventions to overcome the obstacles they face in this area. In this regard, these universities must continuously monitor and assess internal and external organizational environments, focusing on organizational culture and factors such as legal, industrial, marketing, and general economic conditions. They should work to remove identified barriers and promote a culture that supports creativity and quality. Furthermore, ensuring that the informational, financial, human, and physical resources required for technological commercialization are made available promptly and in an adequate quantity and quality is crucial. Universities should also develop their educational, consultative, communicative, and developmental mechanisms within the framework of strategic and operational programs. Moreover, these universities need to establish mechanisms for the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the quantity and quality of commercialized products and services, as well as to assess their short- and long-term impacts on areas such as domestic and international customer satisfaction, organizational partnerships, job creation, exports, and the economic growth and self-sufficiency of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]