Identifying Success Factors of University-Based Entrepreneurship Ecosystems: A Meta-Synthesis Approach
Keywords:
University-based entrepreneurship ecosystem, success factors, meta-synthesis, innovation, networkingAbstract
This study aimed to identify, synthesize, and present an integrated framework of success factors for university-based entrepreneurship ecosystems in Iran. This applied study employed a descriptive–explanatory design with a qualitative approach based on systematic review and meta-synthesis. The study population consisted of Persian and English articles and theses published between 2015 and 2025. Following searches in national and international databases, 70 initial sources were identified. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, removing duplicates, and conducting quality appraisal, 31 sources, including 15 English and 16 Persian studies, were selected for final analysis. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the CASP tool and Carlsen’s checklist, and inter-rater agreement was confirmed through Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.78. Data analysis was conducted using Sandelowski’s seven-step meta-synthesis model. In addition, a focus group of 7 experts was used to refine and validate the final categories. The meta-synthesis findings indicated that the success factors of university-based entrepreneurship ecosystems can be explained through five main categories: policymaking, institutional support, and governance; infrastructure and financial resources; entrepreneurial culture and education; interactions and networking; and innovation, commercialization, and the role of university actors. The findings revealed that the success of these ecosystems depends on the simultaneous interaction of institutional, structural, cultural, financial, educational, and network-based factors, and that no single factor alone can ensure ecosystem sustainability and effectiveness. The proposed framework can serve as a strategic tool for higher education policymakers, university managers, and entrepreneurship program designers to design, improve, evaluate, and strengthen university-based entrepreneurship ecosystems.
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