Proper knowledge of the factors affecting science production is essential to accelerate scientific progress and achieve the goals of the country's vision document and comprehensive scientific map. The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting the science production to move toward third-generation universities.

In this descriptive-analytical survey, the sample was based on a stratified random sampling of 270 people selected from 918 faculty members of the Iran University of Medical Sciences. The research tool was a questionnaire designed based on available literature. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 23 using descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, and Friedman test.

The results revealed that all managerial, structural, cultural, and human factors were influential in discussing science production from the faculty members’ perspective (P <0.05). Also, from the faculty members' perspective, the essential components of the above-mentioned factors include the university innovations management, scientific structure, communication and collaboration, entrepreneurs, and innovative, entrepreneurial, and community-oriented managers, respectively.

From the faculty members’ perspective, all the studied factors were effective in producing science. Therefore, paying more attention to these factors to move toward the goals of third-generation universities can improve the status of the university.