evaluation criteria for selecting suppliers in the field of research with fuzzy multi-criteria approach

abstract. today, there is no specific method or criterion for selecting contractors in the researches’ field. usually this selection is regarded as a matter of taste and as a result, there is no coordinated approach in the mentioned domain. sometimes, after signing the contract, the inappropriate selection became clear. the managers are in direct need of a pattern for selecting the contractors. in the present research, the evaluation indexes of knowledge developers such as universities, knowledge-based companies, and research centers have been studied. for clarifying the process of the selection and by the help of the fuzzy topsis method, we have considered four indexes as the general ones: 1) the price 2) the quality 3) the delivery time and 4) the work experiences. finally, for better understanding, we have brought an example with 5 candidates and 5 determiners.