Meta-Synthesis of Factors Affecting the Formation and Development of the University-Based Innovation Ecosystem

In knowledge-based economies, university-based innovation ecosystems play a decisive role in economic development. Accordingly, this study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the formation and development of university-based innovation ecosystems.

The purpose of this research is developmental, in which the systematic evaluation and analysis of previous research findings has been carried out in a Meta-Synthesis approach, including seven steps. Using this method, the researchers have made a rigorous review of the research topic and combined the findings of previous qualitative research. In the present study, the statistical population includes all previous research (articles) related to the subject. In the field of sampling, the most relevant Latin and Persian studies have been selected with a purposeful approach to 65 articles in which the factors affecting the formation and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in universities have been discussed.

According to the final research framework, the factors influencing the formation and development of university-based innovation ecosystems were categorized into 6 main categories and 14 sub-categories. The main categories of the research results are "Policy-Making and Strategic Management", " Culturalize and Leadership", " Systematize of University Activities", "Creation and Development of Infrastructure", "Structures and Interactions" and "Background factors".

The above framework can be used as a tool for implementing university-based innovation ecosystem in Iranian universities