Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research

Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research

Designing a Model of Sustainable Innovation for the Realization of an Entrepreneurial University: A Structural-Interpretive Modeling Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Amir Mohammad Colabi 1
Jahangir Yadollahi Farsi 2
Fatemeh Sharaei 3
1 Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management and Economic, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Business Creation, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management and Economic, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/eir.2025.494104.1138
Abstract
Objective: An entrepreneurial university has become a platform for commercializing ideas and solving societal issues, driven by its ability to connect knowledge, innovation, and the market. This approach enhances productivity, creates value, and promotes sustainable development. The present study aims to design a sustainable innovation model to facilitate the realization of an entrepreneurial university.

Methods: This applied research adopts an exploratory mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative) and uses content analysis and interpretive structural modeling (ISM). The main concepts related to the sustainable innovation model for establishing an entrepreneurial university were extracted in the first phase. In the next phase, these concepts were categorized, and their relationships were identified. Data collection involved library research and semi-structured interviews for the content analysis phase and a researcher-designed questionnaire for the ISM phase. The research population included 11 academic and entrepreneurial experts for the content analysis, while 17 questionnaires were distributed among experts for the ISM phase, of which 14 were completed and analyzed.

Findings: The findings of the research show a four-level conceptual model consisting of 9 components, which are: social responsibility of the university, development of university agility, creation of shared value in university communications, establishment of corporate governance in the university, internationalization of the university, commercialization of knowledge and technology, promotion of an innovative culture, knowledge-based capacity building and investment in research and development and entrepreneurial projects.

Conclusion: Sustainable innovation for realizing an entrepreneurial university consists of interconnected components that facilitate economic knowledge production, dissemination, and commercialization. Knowledge-based capacity building and the promotion of an innovative culture play crucial roles by providing the necessary infrastructure and support. These components empower managers and policymakers to foster sustainable innovation, advance entrepreneurial universities, and enhance future academic generations.
Keywords
Entrepreneurial University
Entrepreneurship
Innovation
Sustainable Innovation

Subjects

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