Dr. Mohammad Ali Moradi, Associate Professor

Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Biography

Dr. Mohammad Ali Moradi is an associate professor at the University of Tehran's Faculty of Entrepreneurship, currently serving as a visiting associate professor at Peking University HSBC Business School. With a PhD from the University of Liverpool, his research interests span entrepreneurial finance, business venture creation, business model innovation, business environment and governance, and entrepreneurship development policies. He has authored two books and published extensively, including articles in national and international journals and encyclopedias. His book "Business Environment: Theories, indices, and techniques" was honored as Book of the Year among university publishers in Iran in 2016. Recognized for his contributions, he has received accolades such as top professor at the University of Tehran in 2016 and awards for supervising outstanding MA and PhD dissertations in growth and employment topics in Iran. His academic achievements were further acknowledged by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iran in 2009. Moradi has served as a referee for various journals, taught PhD and MA courses, supervised 46 students, and conducted workshops on entrepreneurship development policymaking, macroeconomics, and business environment analysis.

Topic

Exploring Institutional Enablers in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: An Integrated Framework for Nanotechnology

Abstract

Recent scholarship has increasingly acknowledged the vital role of institutions in nurturing entrepreneurial activities and fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, existing literature lacks a comprehensive exploration of the diverse institutional enablers and their policy implications that influence entrepreneurial ecosystems and impact entrepreneurial ventures. Addressing this gap, this study adopts an institutional perspective to investigate the institutional enablers that facilitate nanotechnology business ventures and identifies mechanisms and key policy areas that can enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Iran, an emerging economy. The study involved 23 semi-structured interviews with policymakers and stakeholders in the technology and nanotechnology sectors. Through rigorous thematic analysis, four main institutional enablers were identified: state-driven initiatives, non-governmental institutions, institutional entrepreneurship, and international institutions. These entities influence the entrepreneurial landscape through regulatory frameworks, policy collaborations, and shaping the overall ecosystem. The findings underscore the significant role of formal institutions in shaping the entrepreneurial environment within the nanotechnology sector. The study proposes four propositions concerning institutional enablers and their policy frameworks, offering insights into how these institutions can foster a conducive environment for entrepreneurial activities in nanotechnology.

Dr. Zhuming Chen, Professor

School of Business, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

Biography

Dr. Zhuming Chen is a Professor and doctoral supervisor in finance at the School of Business, Sun Yat-sen University. A member for the Game Theory Society. Vice Chairman of the Risk Investment Professional Committee of the 9th China Management Annual Conference; Member of Guangdong Green Finance Expert Committee, Member of Guangdong Digital Government Construction Expert Committee, and Director of Guangdong Economic Society. His research interests include financial investment; venture capital; FinTech; risk management of Banks. More than 50 research articles and case studies have been published in high-level journals such as International Review of Economics and Finance (SSCI), North American Journal of Economics and Finance (SSCI), Journal of Financial Research (SSCI), International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making (SSCI&SCI), Computational Economics (SCI), Journal of Systems Science and Systems Engineering (SCI), Journal of Emerging Markets [J], Financial Innovation (SSCI), as well as in domestic and international journals such as "China Management Science" and "Research on Quantitative Economics and Technological Economics". Research papers have been presented at MFA 2012 meetings and other domestic and international academic conferences. Cover Person of Contemporary Economy, Issue 12, 2013.

Topic

Optimal Timing and Conditions for Forming a FinTech Institution (FTI)

Abstract

This study analyzes the optimal timing and conditions for forming a FinTech institution（FTI) using real options game theory. Three typical ways of forming FTIs are presented : investment, the merging of a traditional financial institution (TFI) with a digital technology company (DTC), and the merging of a DTC with a TFI. Our results indicate that higher financial license values, faster financial industry growth, and higher required returns by shareholders, all contribute to accelerating the formation of FTIs. Additionally, stronger correlations between upstream and downstream products and higher FinTech index factors further expedite this process. Conversely, higher financial industry volatility and transaction costs slow this process down. This method can also be applied to study other topics, such as general vertical mergers and the digital transformation of industry.