Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 YI. C., Islamic Azad University
2 Department of Urban Planning, Shi.C., Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
Entrepreneurship plays a key role in the economic and social development of new towns. In the face of multiple challenges in these urban areas—such as the shortage of sustainable employment opportunities, inadequate infrastructure, and social issues—entrepreneurship can serve as an effective solution for job creation, increased productivity and income, and improved quality of life for residents. It plays a fundamental role in achieving sustainable economic and social development. This study aims to explain and propose novel entrepreneurial-oriented models in new towns, with a focus on sustainable urban development in Parand New Town. From a methodological perspective, the research is applied in purpose and qualitative in nature, employing a descriptive-analytical and explanatory approach. A multi-stage strategy was adopted by combining documentary analysis, analytical reasoning, and fieldwork methods. On the one hand, this approach helped gather theoretical foundations and global experiences in the fields of urban development and entrepreneurship; on the other hand, it allowed for the analysis of local and contextual conditions in order to design context-appropriate models. Documentary findings identified five fundamental dimensions for entrepreneurial development in new towns: (1) Institutional-governance (participatory local institutions and network governance, transparent policymaking and enabling legislation, integration of urban and economic policies); (2) Economic (financial infrastructure and access to capital, emerging markets and links with local and regional economies, entrepreneurial urban branding); (3) Socio-cultural (education and empowerment, entrepreneurial culture, social participation networks, and social capital); (4) Technological-knowledge-based (innovation ecosystems, university-industry linkages, smart urban technologies, and support for start-ups); and (5) Physical-environmental (flexible urban spaces and innovation zones, green and environmentally adaptive infrastructure, legal facilitation, and active local participation). In the fieldwork phase, 136 initial codes were identified, synthesized into 21 intermediate codes and 8 abstract concepts—namely: institutional and managerial fragmentation, weak social participation networks, financial dependence on external capital, underdeveloped entrepreneurial urban branding, bureaucratic culture and risk aversion, university-to-market skill gaps, weak technology and innovation infrastructure, and inefficiency of shared spaces and innovation zones. These were categorized into five overarching thematic categories. Based on both documentary and field findings, dominant conceptual themes were extracted as the core of the study. A comparative analysis with international cases was conducted to assess localization potential in Parand, and ultimately, a context-specific model for entrepreneurial-oriented development in Parand New Town was proposed.
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