Public–Private Collaboration for Enhancing Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Irans Underdeveloped Areas

Public–private collaboration (PPC) is increasingly recognized as a lever for inclusive growth, yet its potential to catalyze entrepreneurship in underdeveloped Iranian regions remains only partially realized. This article examines how structured partnerships among government agencies, local authorities, private firms, financial institutions, and intermediary organizations (incubators, chambers, NGOs) can expand entrepreneurial opportunity sets where market failures, thin ecosystems, and institutional frictions prevail. Drawing on a mixed-methods design, we analyze quantitative data on SME formation, credit allocation, and business survival in ۱۱ lagging provinces (۲۰۱۵–۲۰۲۴), and conduct ۳۴ semi-structured interviews with policymakers, private investors, ecosystem builders, and founders operating outside major metropolitan hubs. We find that PPC is most effective when it solves coordination problems that neither state nor market actors can resolve alone—specifically, (۱) de-risking early-stage finance through blended instruments and performance-based subsidies; (۲) anchoring local demand via public procurement and corporate supply-chain integration; (۳) embedding capability building through co-designed training, mentorship, and standards compliance; and (۴) improving enabling infrastructure by aligning public capital expenditures with private operating commitments. However, impact is uneven due to governance fragmentation, short budget cycles, limited transparency in partner selection, and weak monitoring of developmental outcomes beyond firm counts. Case comparisons show higher new-firm survival and local job multipliers where PPCs are sector-specialized (e. g. , agri-processing, eco-tourism, renewables O&M), tie incentives to measurable milestones, and incorporate local financial intermediaries for last-mile delivery. The paper proposes a pragmatic architecture for PPC in underdeveloped areas: provincial PPC compacts with clear roles, blended-finance windows linked to procurement pipelines, standardized capability ladders for SMEs, and a results framework tracking inclusivity, resilience, and place-based spillovers. By institutionalizing these design features, Iran can convert latent entrepreneurial intent into durable firms that diversify regional economies and generate quality employment.

کلیدواژه ها:

public–private collaboration ، entrepreneurship ، underdeveloped regions ، Iran ، blended finance.