Scenario based priority setting of R&D issues: A case study of membrane technology in National Iranian Gas industry

In this paper, to set R&D priorities at sector level, a developed method is proposed which is combined of scenario planning and critical technologies method and then applied for prioritizing R&D issues of membrane technology in National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC). In the first phase (through 3 steps), scope of NIGC is mapped using national documents and viewpoints of experts and managers. This map includes main process of gas processing and gas conversions. Then strategic goals of gas industry including gas exports, conversions, injection and internal use, are developed. Also Strategic Technology Units (STUs) are identified and twenty distinct membrane technologies including technologies of main process are recognized. In the second phase through questionnaires and weighted criteria, feasibility and attractiveness of each STU are evaluated and shown in Feasibility-Attractiveness matrix. This matrix is divided into 3 sections, based on the critical technologies method. So 4 technologies placed in high attractiveness and feasibility area, 12 technologies in middle area and 4 technologies placed in low feasibility and attractiveness area. Four key technologies placed in the first area was H₂S/NG, H₂O/NG, CO₂/NG, C₃₊/NG separations. Finally (third phase), according to identified driving forces, four scenarios are built and in each scenario, membrane R&D portfolio is selected.