نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

• احسان درویشی ¹
• علی شمس الدینی ²
• محمد همتی ³

¹ دانشجوی دکتری، گروه جغرافیا، دانشکده علوم انسانی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد یادگار امام خمینی (ره) شهرری، تهران، ایران.

² دانشیار رشته جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی روستایی، گروه شهرسازی و معماری، واحد شیراز، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، شیراز، ایران.

³ استادیار رشته جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی روستایی، گروه جغرافیا، دانشکده علوم انسانی، واحد یادگار امام خمینی (ره) شهرری، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران.

چکیده

کارآفرینی در شهرهای جدید می‌تواند به‌عنوان محرکی اساسی برای ایجاد اشتغال، ارتقای کیفیت زندگی و تحقق توسعه پایدار شهری عمل کند. هدف پژوهش حاضر، تبیین و ارائه الگوهای نوین کارآفرین‌محور در شهرهای جدید با تأکید بر توسعه پایدار شهری و با مطالعه موردی شهر پرند است. پژوهش از نظر هدف، کاربردی و از نظر روش، کیفی با رویکرد توصیفی_تحلیلی انجام شده است. داده‌ها با بهره‌گیری از تحلیل اسنادی و مصاحبه نیمه‌ساخت‌یافته با خبرگان جمع‌آوری و با روش تحلیل مضمون بررسی شد. نتایج نشان داد که پنج بعد نهادی_حاکمیتی، اقتصادی، اجتماعی_فرهنگی، فناورانه_دانشی و کالبدی_محیطی، چارچوب اصلی توسعه کارآفرینی در شهرهای جدید را تشکیل می‌دهند. در این میان، گسست نهادی و مدیریتی، وابستگی مالی به سرمایه‌های بیرونی، فرهنگ ریسک‌گریزی و شکاف مهارتی دانشگاه و بازار از مهم‌ترین موانع توسعه کارآفرینی در پرند شناخته شدند. تحلیل تطبیقی با نمونه‌های جهانی نشان داد که تقویت نهادهای مشارکتی، ایجاد صندوق‌های مالی محلی، ارتقای مهارت‌های کارآفرینانه و بازطراحی فضاهای شهری می‌تواند زمینه‌ساز شکل‌گیری زیست‌بوم کارآفرین‌محور در پرند شود. بر این اساس، الگوی پیشنهادی پژوهش در سه سطح ساختاری_سیاستی، نهادی_عملیاتی و اجتماعی_فرهنگی ارائه گردید که اجرای آن می‌تواند به بهبود شاخص‌های پایداری و افزایش کیفیت زندگی در شهرهای جدید کمک نماید.

کلیدواژه‌ها

• شهرهای جدید
• کارآفرینی شهری
• توسعه‌پایدار
• الگوهای نوین شهری
• شهر جدید پرند

موضوعات

• برنامه ریزی شهری

عنوان مقاله [English]

Conceptualization of Novel Entrepreneurial-Oriented Models in New Towns with an Emphasis on Sustainable Urban Development (Case Study: Parand New Town)

نویسندگان [English]

• Ehsan Darvishi ¹
• Ali shamsoddini ²
• Mohammad Hemmati ³

¹ Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Yadegr-e Imam Khomeini Branch, Shahr-e Rey, Tehran, Iran.

² Department of Urban Planning and Architecture, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.

³ Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Yadegr-e Imam Khomeini Branch, Shahr-e Rey, Tehran, Iran.

چکیده [English]

Highlights

Identification of five systemic dimensions hindering entrepreneurship in Iranian new towns.
Institutional–governance fragmentation identified as the primary barrier to urban sustainability.
Proposal of a localized three-level model (Structural, Institutional, Socio-cultural) for Parand.
Transitioning new towns from “dormitory functions” to “innovation-driven ecosystems.”
Leveraging the creative economy as a strategic catalyst for urban resilience and identity.

 
Introduction
Over more than two decades of implementing new-town development policies in Iran, key objectives such as sustainable employment generation, economic self-sufficiency, and social stability have not been fully realized. Much of the domestic literature and planning practice has remained focused on physical and demographic dimensions, while the systematic conceptualization and localization of sustainable urban entrepreneurship have received limited attention. In contrast, successful international experiences demonstrate that the integration of local institutions, innovation ecosystems, and social participation can significantly enhance urban sustainability and long-term resilience.
Parand New Town—the largest new town in Iran—faces a combination of institutional–governance fragmentation, economic dependency, socio-cultural constraints, technological deficiencies, and spatial inefficiencies. These challenges have collectively prevented the formation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem aligned with sustainable urban development. As a result, Parand has largely maintained a “dormitory town” character, with strong functional dependency on the metropolitan core, rather than evolving into a self-sustaining, innovation-driven urban system. Accordingly, the central research question of this study is: How can a novel, localized, entrepreneurial-oriented model be conceptualized for Parand New Town that draws critically on global experiences while addressing local institutional, economic, and socio-cultural barriers to sustainable urban development?
Theoretical Framework
The study is grounded in contemporary theories of urban entrepreneurialism, sustainable urban development, and the creative economy. While early entrepreneurial-city models emphasized competitiveness, economic growth, and place marketing, more recent approaches highlight collaborative governance, innovation, social capital, and environmental sustainability as essential pillars of urban resilience. International evidence suggests that entrepreneurial success in cities depends on the interaction and mutual reinforcement of governance structures, economic and financial systems, human and social capital, innovation infrastructures, and supportive physical environments.
Based on an extensive review of international and national literature, five fundamental dimensions of entrepreneurial development in new towns were identified:

Institutional–governance,
Economic,
Socio-cultural,
Technological–knowledge-based, and
Physical–environmental.

These dimensions constitute the analytical framework for explaining both barriers and enabling factors in the case of Parand New Town. This framework allows the research to bridge global theoretical debates with context-specific dynamics, thereby contributing to the localization of entrepreneurial and sustainability concepts in the Iranian new-town context.
Methodology
This research is applied in purpose and qualitative in nature, adopting a descriptive–analytical and explanatory approach. A multi-stage research strategy was employed, combining documentary analysis, analytical reasoning, and fieldwork. Documentary analysis focused on international and national studies related to urban entrepreneurship, creative economy strategies, and sustainable development in new towns, as well as policy documents and planning reports relevant to Parand.
In the fieldwork phase, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts, urban planners, academics, and practitioners familiar with Parand New Town and its governance and development processes. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure that a range of institutional, professional, and experiential perspectives were captured. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved and no substantially new themes emerged.
Data were analyzed through thematic analysis using MAXQDA software. The coding process resulted in 136 initial (open) codes, which were refined into 21 intermediate (axial) codes and ultimately synthesized into five overarching thematic categories aligned with the theoretical framework. Throughout the analysis, efforts were made to maintain rigor and trustworthiness through systematic coding, iterative comparison of themes, and careful documentation of interpretive decisions.
Results and Discussion
The findings indicate that the barriers to entrepreneurial development in Parand are structural, interconnected, and multi-dimensional. The institutional–governance dimension emerged as the most dominant and influential theme. Institutional and managerial fragmentation, weak network governance, overlapping mandates, and lack of coordination among local bodies—such as the municipality, the new town development company, and sectoral agencies—have led to policy inconsistency, delays in entrepreneurial projects, and limited social participation. This fragmentation undermines coherent strategic planning and hampers the implementation of integrated entrepreneurial policies.
Within the economic dimension, strong dependence on external financial resources, the absence of local investment and guarantee funds, and weak entrepreneurial urban branding have reduced investment attractiveness and encouraged the out-migration of entrepreneurs to larger metropolitan areas. The lack of diversified local revenue sources and limited support instruments for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) further weaken the economic base of Parand and its capacity to retain creative and entrepreneurial human capital.
The socio-cultural dimension highlights the prevalence of an employee-oriented culture, risk aversion, and a persistent gap between university education and labor market needs. These factors undermine entrepreneurial motivation, weaken local human capital development, and discourage experimentation and innovation. The persistence of informal norms favoring job security over entrepreneurial risk-taking contributes to a fragile entrepreneurial culture in the new town.
The technological–knowledge-based dimension reveals an underdeveloped innovation ecosystem, limited university–industry linkages, and insufficient deployment of smart urban technologies. These shortcomings restrict the growth of knowledge-based entrepreneurship and start-ups and prevent Parand from positioning itself as a node in national and regional innovation networks. The absence of incubators, accelerators, and dedicated innovation spaces further diminishes opportunities for collaboration and experimentation.
Finally, the physical–environmental dimension points to inefficiencies in shared spaces, innovation zones, and flexible urban environments, which limit interaction, collaboration, and creative activities essential for entrepreneurial ecosystems. The spatial structure of Parand, dominated by residential blocks and functionally mono-dimensional land uses, has not been fully adapted to support mixed-use, vibrant, and inclusive urban environments that typically foster entrepreneurial activity.
A comparative analysis with successful international cases—such as Bristol, Florianópolis, Shanghai, and Dublin—demonstrates that these challenges can be addressed through integrated governance systems, localized financial mechanisms, creative economy strategies, and place-based urban design interventions. Drawing on these experiences and the empirical findings, the study proposes a localized entrepreneurial-oriented model for Parand structured across three levels:

Structural–policy level (reforming governance and regulatory frameworks, embedding entrepreneurship in strategic plans),
Institutional–operational level (creating coordinating bodies, local funds, and supportive intermediary organizations), and
Socio-cultural level (fostering entrepreneurial culture, strengthening networks, and enhancing human capital and participatory capacities).

Conclusion
The findings confirm that the creative economy can function as one of the most effective strategies for enhancing urban resilience, sustainable employment, and quality of life in new towns. The case of Parand demonstrates that cultural, creative, and innovation-based capacities can attract creative human capital, strengthen social cohesion, and contribute to economic diversification. An integrated entrepreneurial-oriented model enables new towns to move beyond a purely residential or dormitory function and transform into centers of innovation, value creation, and urban identity.
The results are consistent with international theories such as Florida’s creative class and the urban regeneration perspectives of Scott and Landry, as well as national studies emphasizing the role of creative industries in sustainable development. From a policy perspective, the study highlights the necessity of embedding entrepreneurial and creative economy strategies within urban and regional development plans, strengthening institutional coordination, investing in innovation and cultural infrastructures, and redefining the role of new towns within broader spatial planning policies. In doing so, new towns like Parand can gradually reposition themselves as active, resilient, and opportunity-rich urban spaces rather than peripheral residential extensions of major metropolitan cores.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to all experts, urban planners, academics, and practitioners who participated in the semi-structured interviews and generously shared their knowledge and professional experiences regarding Parand New Town. Their valuable insights substantially enriched the empirical foundation and analytical rigor of this study. The authors also wish to acknowledge that this article is based on the doctoral dissertation titled “Conceptualization and Development of Novel Entrepreneurial-Oriented Models in New Towns with Emphasis on Sustainable Urban Development (Case Study: Parand New Town).” The research was conducted without any financial support from funding agencies, and there is no conflict of interest.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

• New Towns
• Urban Entrepreneurship
• Sustainable Development
• Modern Urban Patterns
• Parand New Town