Project Evaluation and Selection in Technology Development Funds with Best-Worst Method (Case Study: Innovation and Prosperity Fund)

Objective: Technology Development Funds (TDFs) are one of the most important innovations and so financing institutions must prioritize identifying and funding technological projects, due to the limitation of financial resources. The objective of this paper is to present a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making model (MCDM) for evaluation and selection of appropriate projects in TDFs and their resource allocation. Methods: In this paper a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is used. In the first step, important criteria for evaluating technological projects are identified by reviewing literature, reviewing documents and interviewing experts and by using the factor analysis method, the most important criteria in evaluating knowledge-based projects are determined. Then a multi-criteria decision-making model based on the Best-Worst Method (BWM) is presented considering financial, firm, technology, and market analysis and risk criteria. Results: In this study, the results of the evaluation of 20 knowledge-based projects of the applicant for the interest-free loans and industrial production loans from the Innovation and Prosperity Fund (IPF) are presented. The results of the study indicate that the weight of the evaluation criteria has a significant effect on the results of the evaluation and the approval or rejection of projects. Conclusion: A multi-criteria decision-making model based on the Best-Worst Method is presented in this study, that by using it, technology development funds can carefully evaluate the technological projects and accurately allocate limited national financial resources to the best projects. Knowledge-based companies can also focus their strategies and initiatives on critical and important issues, considering important criteria in the evaluations.