Prioritizing Nanotechnology Applications for the Upstream Oil Industries of Iran

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Abstract

Nanotechnology is one of the world’s newest technologies and determining priorities for the nanotechnology applications is very important for Iran as a developing country. Research and executive projects costs in high technologies is considerable. Also, there are many nanotechnology applications throughout the industrial sector. Upstream oil industries are very strategic for Iran and determining the nanotechnology priorities in these industries is very important for the Iranian government in order to fund and utilize nanotechnology. In this paper, the literature on prioritization methods was reviewed and AHP was selected for recognizing the priorities of these applications. Priority criteria were also taken from similar case studies in Iran and other countries. Iranian experts in the upstream oil industries evaluated these criteria and modified them by taking in to account Iran’s conditions. The criteria and applications were then weighed by experts. Finally, the priorities of nanotechnology in the upstream oil industries were identified using ‘Expert Choice’ software.

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