Introduction: Knowledge-based companies are central to the global shift toward a knowledge-driven economy, serving as key drivers of innovation, employment, and international competitiveness. By leveraging advanced technologies and innovative products, these companies significantly strengthen national economies on the global stage. However, knowledge-based companies in emerging markets like Iran face substantial barriers to enter and sustain their presence in global markets, including limited financial resources, regulatory inefficiencies, underdeveloped export infrastructure, and inadequate support systems. Thus, governmental macro-support policies are essential for facilitating their internationalization. This study examines macro-level supportive strategies adopted by countries that have successfully advanced their knowledge-based sectors globally, including Germany, Canada, Turkey, Russia, Italy, and South Korea—identified as exemplary models by the Export Development and Technology Exchange Fund. The primary aim of the present research is to develop a tailored policy framework for Iran to identify and prioritize key policy dimensions to enhance the international competitiveness of its knowledge-based companies.
Methodology: This applied research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative depth with quantitative generalizability. In the qualitative phase, comprehensive content analysis of official documents, international reports, academic articles, and policy papers from the six selected countries was inductively analyzed to identify and categorize key policy support themes as axial codes, representing core macro-policy dimensions. In the quantitative phase, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) prioritized these dimensions based on their relevance to Iran’s innovation ecosystem. A structured pairwise comparison questionnaire was administered to 12 experts, including policymakers, academics, and knowledge-based company managers from Iran’s innovation ecosystem. Expert Choice software calculated consistency ratios and assigned weights to each policy dimension, ensuring methodological rigor. The model identified seven key supportive strategies: (1) export education and skill development, (2) financial support and capital provision, (3) international branding and soft power (a nation’s ability to influence through cultural appeal and persuasion, enhancing global visibility for its companies), (4) global networking, (5) trade and customs facilitation, (6) opportunity-generating interventions (policies fostering new business opportunities for knowledge-based SMEs through advisory programs, market access facilitation, and specialized investment funds), and (7) investment in technological infrastructure.
Results and Discussion: The findings reveal significant variations in how the studied countries deploy policy instruments to support knowledge-based companies. Germany and South Korea lead in innovation-oriented subsidies and investments, exemplified by Germany’s High-Tech Strategy and South Korea’s substantial GDP allocation to Canada excels in tax incentives (e.g., SR&ED), while Turkey focuses on branding (e.g., Turquality) and SME support (e.g., KOSGEB). Export training is robust in Italy and Germany. South Korea and Turkey provide effective low-interest loans. Global networking is fostered through international trade fairs (e.g., Hannover Messe, Milan Design Week) in Germany, Italy, and Turkey. South Korea leverages cultural diplomacy (e.g., K-pop) for national business visibility, while Turkey’s Turquality enhances international positioning. Trade facilitation policies, like Turkey’s Inward Processing Regime and South Korea’s free trade agreements, streamline customs and reduce barriers. South Korea (e.g., Daedeok Innopolis) and Germany (e.g., Industrie 4.0) have invested heavily in technological infrastructure, creating robust platforms. The AHP analysis identified export training and skill development (29.8%) and financial support and capital provision (27.8%) as Iran’s top priorities, followed by international branding and soft power (17.6%), global networking (10.7%), trade and customs policies (7.1%), opportunity-generating interventions (4.4%), and technological infrastructure (2.7%). This prioritization highlights critical gaps in Iran’s innovation ecosystem, particularly in export readiness and capital access, aligning with prior research (e.g., Norouzi et al., 2024; Riyanto et al., 2024) emphasizing integrated financial and capacity-building support. The study underscores that adopting international models requires contextual adaptation to avoid inefficiencies. Iran’s focus on training and financial support addresses urgent skill gaps and capital constraints. While technological infrastructure is important, immediate human capital and financial mechanisms are more critical. South Korea and Germany demonstrate that sustained and infrastructure investment, coupled with strategic branding and networking, drives long-term competitiveness.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that government macro-level policies are pivotal for the internationalization of knowledge-based companies. The comparative analysis highlights the need for an integrated policy mix encompassing financial incentives, human capital development, infrastructure investment, and global branding. Successful implementation requires close alignment with local realities, robust institutional coordination, and broad ecosystem engagement. For Iran, immediate priorities include establishing comprehensive export education programs and diverse financial mechanisms, such as venture capital funds, innovation grants, and targeted tax incentives. Strategic investments in technology parks, proactive international marketing, and adaptive regulatory reforms are essential to overcome barriers to global market entry. Additionally, fostering public-private partnerships and leveraging digital platforms for market intelligence can enhance access to global opportunities. A holistic ecosystem approach, with collaboration among universities, industries, and governments under a unified innovation agenda, is critical for nurturing globally competitive knowledge-based companies. This study provides a comprehensive policy framework grounded in global best practices and tailored to Iran’s socio-economic context. It enables strategic interventions, including mentorship programs with experienced exporters and regional trade hubs, to enhance Iran’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy, fostering sustainable economic growth and innovation.