Title: Explaining the concept of competitiveness in research and technology

Authors: Reza Bandarian

Addresses: Commercialization and Business Development Department, Technology Management Division, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, West Blvd. Azadi Sports Complex, P.O. Box 14665-137, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Since research and technology (R&T) is a prerequisite of technological innovation, R&T competitiveness is a strategic requirement for seizing competitive advantage through technology. Hence, emphasising the role of R&T in increasing the competitiveness index of countries will be meaningless without attention to the competitiveness of R&T itself. R&T competitiveness is one of the areas that have received little attention, despite its importance and the heavy investment of governments in knowledge-based development. Considering this, current article aims to define the concept of competitiveness in R&T by, first discussing the concept of competition, competitiveness and different levels of it and then, by describing four levels of R&T competitiveness, namely national, between sectors, within sectors and the level of technological competence areas. At the end, managerial implications and conclusions are provided.

Keywords: competition and competitiveness; research and technology; R&T; competitiveness of R&T.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRIC.2020.115336

International Journal of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, 2020 Vol.3 No.2, pp.117 - 130

Received: 24 May 2020
Accepted: 12 Jan 2021
Published online: 28 May 2021 *

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