Analysis of Factors Affecting the Formation of the Smart Village Approach in Iran

Aim: Rural development is mainly focused on poverty alleviation, better livelihood opportunities, provision of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities through innovative self-employment programs. A smart village provides long-term social, economic, welfare, and environmental activities for the village community, which enables widespread participation in local governance processes and promotes entrepreneurship. It can also improve health and well-being and strengthen the interactions of village residents. Therefore, the current research aims to identify and analyze the factors affecting the formation of the smart village approach in Iran. Material & Method: The required information was collected in a documentary-library way. The data was analyzed using expert judgment, the field survey method (observation and questionnaire), the network analysis process model (ANP), and DEMATEL. Finding: The research results show that among the factors related to the formation of the smart village approach, the ten components of the smart village include smart education, smart connection, smart economy, smart energy, smart health, smart environment, smart governance, smart infrastructure and mobility, smart agriculture, and smart tourism in this research have been identified. According to the opinion of the respondents, smart education, with 7.26%, ranked first, and smart connection component, with 4.20%, ranked second. Conclusion: Therefore, in order to achieve all-around development in connection with the smart village, effective attention must be paid to education and connection because they have the most influence in the formation of the smart village.Innovation: For the first time in Iran, the components of the formation of the smart village approach based on its native capacities have been examined, which can open the way for further research in this field.