Smart transport & digital economy ecosystem

Problem and starting point

TBT INVEST based an initial proposal on the disconnect between operational needs, technology supply and development resources. Scope covers road, rail, maritime, aviation, relevant space services and multimodal transport. Each field requires its own evidence and capabilities.

Core research question

What mechanism turns operator needs into projects with a customer, accountable implementer and clear economics, without duplicate systems or unnecessary concentration of authority?

Initial work completed

An initial network architecture, role separation, opportunity list and phased roadmap have been drafted. Frontier fields remain study areas; opportunities are not approved projects or completed investments.

Proposed research method

The proposed mixed method combines document review, semi-structured interviews, value-network analysis and scenario comparison. Demand, data access, feasibility and safety are screened before commercial scoring.

Further research needed

Stakeholder authority mapping, demand evidence, sourced market sizing, technology readiness and bottom-up financial models need completion. Interview samples and independent reviewers remain to be defined per subproject.

Path to testing and implementation

Select one bounded problem with a willing operator. Agree scope, data, costs and stop conditions before testing. Expansion to another field or region will depend on pilot evidence.

Measures and decision criteria

Assess time from need to decision-ready project, total service cost, reliability, active participation and unit economics. Record formulas, data sources, measurement periods and decision thresholds before testing; no numerical results are reported yet.

Roles and decision quality

TBT INVEST develops the study and economic assessment. Technology and operational roles, including any potential TBT ONE contribution, are assessed per project. Scientific review, investment decisions and supply roles require separation and conflict disclosure.

Sources and review references

Sources inform proposed research design and review. Referencing them does not establish full implementation of a method or endorsement by the publisher.

1. OECD — Frascati Manual 2015

   Reference for distinguishing R&D from service design and consultancy.

2. OECD/Eurostat — Oslo Manual 2018

   Distinguishes ideas from innovations put into use; informs outcome evaluation.

Legal references and open checks

Iran’s Seventh Development Plan, digital-economy frameworks, data governance and mode-specific rules are on the legal-review agenda. Applicable provisions, permissions and current texts remain to be checked. No delegated national mandate is claimed.

Linked legal texts are reference copies. Checking current amendments, sector rules and permissions remains a separate prerequisite to each pilot. These references confer no public authority or investment-raising permission on TBT INVEST.

Next step

Complete the evidence matrix and compare pilot candidates. The next output is a project charter specifying the problem, operator, data, costs, risks and decision criteria.