Title: Technological capability building in Iranian biosimilar industry

Authors: Razieh Ahmady; Gholamhossein Mehralian

Addresses: Department of Pharmaco-economics and Pharma Management, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Niayesh Highway, Valiasr Ave, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Pharmaco-economics and Pharma Management, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Niayesh Highway, Valiasr Ave, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: The development of technological capability plays a strategic role in industrialisation and catchup in developing countries. However, the emergence of new technologies, coupled with industries' ever-shifting business models, has affected the processes and factors critical to the formation of technological capability. In this context, the present study seeks to investigate the pattern of technological capability building in the Iranian firms to the emergence of the biosimilar sector in the pharmaceutical market. Drawing on a case study strategy, the findings reveal that the path of capability evolution in Iranian firms is shaped by a gradual movement towards acquiring biosimilar capabilities. This paper also shows that firms relying on a combination of indigenous research and development as well as technological collaborations make most progress in the capability building. Furthermore, scientific collaborations with research institutes, hiring experts in biotechnology and organisational capability development are key strategies contributing to the accumulation of technological capabilities in Iranian biosimilar firms.

Keywords: technology transfer; technological capabilities; biosimilar industry; developing countries; case study; pharmaceutical industry; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTLID.2020.112739

International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, 2020 Vol.12 No.4, pp.251 - 266

Received: 07 Jul 2020
Accepted: 27 Aug 2020

Published online: 01 Feb 2021 *

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