Research and Development (R&D), as the primary driver of technological innovation and the enhancement of industrial competitiveness, plays an undeniable role in sustainable economic development. However, empirical evidence and provincial statistics indicate that industrial centers in Mazandaran province face numerous structural, managerial, and operational challenges in attracting investment and establishing R&D units. The primary objective of this study is to identify and rank the barriers to R&D investment in the industrial centers of Mazandaran province. Methodologically, this research is applied in terms of its objective and descriptive-survey in terms of its nature. The statistical population comprised 32 experts and managers affiliated with the industry, academia, science and technology parks, and the Department of Industry, Mining, and Trade of Mazandaran province. Due to the limited population size, a census sampling method was employed. Data collection instruments included open-ended questionnaires (to identify barriers via the Delphi technique) and pairwise comparison questionnaires (AHP). Following data organization in Microsoft Excel, the analysis was conducted using MATLAB software based on the AHP methodology. The Consistency Ratio (CR) for all pairwise comparison matrices was calculated to be less than 0.10, indicating the validity and reliability of the experts' judgments. The findings revealed seven principal factors, ranked by importance, as follows: management (0.195), infrastructure (0.178), financial resources (0.169), policies and procedures (0.153), laws and regulations (0.116), human resources (0.109), and cultural factors (0.077). At the sub-criteria level, the absence of long-term strategic planning, the lack of constructive industry-academia linkages, and the insufficiency of corporate financial resources were identified as the primary bottlenecks. The results of this study emphasize that to accelerate R&D investment, it is imperative to revise managerial structures, strengthen the technology ecosystem, facilitate financial mechanisms, and reform governmental macro-policies.