Karafan Journal

Karafan Journal

Scientific Mapping of the Growth of Small and Medium-Sized Industrial Enterprises in Iran's Industrial Parks: A Scientometric Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD, Department of Business Creation, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2 Professor of the Department of Business Creation, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3 Professor, Department of Business Creation, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
A b s t r a c t



The study of industry has long attracted significant attention. The importance of industry is evident, as its role in a nation's economy, society, welfare, and international relations is undeniable. Therefore, countries strive to geographically concentrate various industries, a strategy that is also evident in Iran through the establishment of industrial parks. Accordingly, the present study aims to provide a scientific mapping of research conducted on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Iran’s industrial parks. This research employs scientometric methods, utilizing bibliometric analysis. A total of 560 articles were extracted from the Web of Science database, and their components were analyzed using VOSviewer software to construct a network and explore their interconnections. The findings identified 14 main research clusters. The results indicate that the majority of studies in this field have been conducted in China, the United States, and India. However, there are very few studies published by Middle Eastern universities, particularly those in Iran. One possible reason for this could be that many studies in this domain are published in domestic and Persian-language databases. Additionally, in the red cluster, which represents the most significant research network, the key factor identified is joint investment and financial support for SMEs.
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Volume 23, Issue 2
Humanities
Spring 2026

  • Receive Date 22 April 2025
  • Revise Date 09 September 2025
  • Accept Date 01 February 2026