Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Associate Professor of Imam Khomeini Center for Higher Education, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
2 Graduate of The Tehran Uni.
Abstract
Rapid technological advancements and the growing needs of the agricultural sector have highlighted the necessity of revising the educational system in this field. The lack of a coherent innovation ecosystem is a major obstacle to the formation and growth of startups in agricultural educational technologies. This study aimed to design an innovation ecosystem model for this field and identify and weight the key components influencing it. This research was conducted using a mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) approach. In the qualitative phase, initial components were extracted through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 12 academic and industry experts (professors, managers of knowledge-based companies, and startup founders), selected via purposive sampling. Qualitative data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. In the quantitative phase, a researcher-made questionnaire was designed based on qualitative findings. The questionnaire’s validity was confirmed by a panel of experts, and its reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (above 0.7 for all constructs). The questionnaire was distributed and collected among232 managers and active members of knowledge-based and technology-driven companies in the agricultural sector of Alborz Province. Quantitative data were analyzed using Smart-PLS software and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model (convergent and discriminant validity) and the structural model (path coefficients and significance) were evaluated. Data analysis led to the identification and confirmation of nine key components of the innovation ecosystem in agricultural educational technologies: Market, Support (institutional and infrastructural), Jihadi Management (attitude and approach), Policymaking, Human Capital, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Culture, Ethics in Technology Application, and Financing. Based on Factor Loading, the components of "Market"(0.832), "Support"(0.808), and "Jihadi Management"(0.787) had the highest direct impact on improving and developing the innovation ecosystem, respectively. The final model also showed a good fit. Based on qualitative and quantitative findings, a conceptual network model of stakeholder interaction (university, government, industry, investors, startups) and a five-stage operational framework for ecosystem implementation were proposed. This study demonstrated that focusing solely on technology or financial capital is insufficient; rather, simultaneously strengthening soft components such as culture, management, and policymaking, along with creating effective demand in the "Market" and providing "comprehensive support," is crucial.
Keywords
- Innovation Ecosystem
- Startup
- Modern Educational Technologies
- Agricultural Education
- Structural Equation Modeling
- Sustainable Agricultural Development
- Agri-Food Innovation Ecosystems
Main Subjects
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