Application of AHP–TOPSIS methods in technopark selection of technology companies: Turkish case

ABSTRACT

The most prominent motivation for the technoparks are that technoparks promote innovation and technology, established to enhance the collaboration and cooperation between the university and companies. The opportunities that technopark offers are effective in the technopark selection of the companies. The aims of this study are to determine the criteria that the companies in the technoparks in Istanbul take into consideration in their technopark preferences and to select the most appropriate technopark based on these criteria. Criteria used in the study are proposed for the first time for selection of technoparks by authors. The sample studied is also used for the first time for technopark selection. To this purpose, current data obtained from the managers of the companies in the technoparks in Istanbul were used. In the application part, AHP and TOPSIS that are among multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods were used separately in the selection of the most appropriate facility location of the companies in Istanbul Technoparks. Result of the study shows that the most suitable facility location was the ITU by two different MCDMmethods. This study being among the first applications for the preference of technoparks for companies with the MCDM methods makes a distinguishing contribution to the field.

KEYWORDS:

• AHP and TOPSIS methods
• technopark preference
• facility location
• Istanbul

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

İsmail Durak

İsmail Durak received the B.S. degree in elementary mathematics education from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey in 2010, the M.S. degree in business administration from Duzce University, Düzce, Turkey, in 2014 and the Ph.D. degree in quantitative methods from Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey, in 2018.

His current research interests include numerical methods, statistical analysis, performance measurement and science parks.

Hakan Murat Arslan

Hakan Murat Arslan received the B.S. degree in mathematics education from Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey in 1996, the M.S. degree in business administration from Duzce University, Düzce, Turkey, in 2011 and the Ph.D. degree in business administration from Duzce University, Düzce, Turkey, in 2015. His current research interests include numerical methods, operational research, statistical analysis and science parks.

Yahya Özdemir

Yahya Ozdemir received the B.S. degree in computer education from Firat University, Elazig, Turkey in 1996, the M.S. degree in computer engineering from Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey, in 2003 and the Ph.D. degree in economics from the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2019. His current research interests include science parks, technology and innovation.