Popularization of Science

Popularization of Science

The Role of the Research Deputy of the Ministry of Education and Science in the Future of Research (Time Horizon 1410)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Amir Hushang Heidari
Faculty Member of the National Research Institute for Science Policy (NRISP)
10.22034/popsci.2025.503177.1396
Abstract
Objective:
Planning and organizing research activities within universities to anticipate and achieve a desirable future is of great importance. Identifying the future landscape of the research sector under the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (MSRT) and understanding its role in shaping the future of research holds a strategic position among higher education policymakers. This study also aims to identify key drivers influencing the development of research activities, determine critical uncertainties, formulate plausible scenarios, and provide policy and managerial recommendations—with a focus on the role of the MSRT in the future of the country’s research landscape.
Method:
This is an applied research project, conducted using a survey-based data collection method. Methodologically, it is exploratory in nature and adopts a descriptive-analytical approach grounded in qualitative data. Data were collected through library research, document analysis, interviews, questionnaires, and expert panels, in order to extract experts’ tacit knowledge.
Findings:
Among the identified critical uncertainties, two were selected based on indicators of consensus, dispersion, and importance: (1) convergence/divergence of key actors in science, technology, and innovation, and (2) increase/decrease in sanctions. Based on these uncertainties, four scenarios were developed: Composite Effect, Scattered Islands, Abandoned, and Borderless World. In the Composite Effect and Borderless World scenarios, the application of futures studies insights in policymaking fosters interactive and convergent collaboration among domestic actors and institutions, creating a competitive environment that promotes the dynamism and development of research. In contrast, the Scattered Islands and Abandoned scenarios reflect fragmentation and divergence among stakeholders in the STI ecosystem. Finally, policy recommendations are proposed to support the realization of a desirable future for the MSRT’s Research Deputy by the year 1410.
Conclusion:
Through the adoption of synergistic policies and the establishment of collaborative structures among research institutions, achieving scientific growth and effective utilization of research outputs is possible. The policy recommendations provided in this study outline the path toward realizing the preferred future of the Research Deputy of the MSRT by 1410. Furthermore, promoting this approach can enhance motivation, awareness, and participation in research, thereby strengthening its key role in the country's scientific development.
Keywords
Futures Studies
Research Deputy Area
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Future Research 1410
Subjects
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