Innovation of several Iranian top universities in the field of research, technology and knowledge exchange

Investigating and solving the problem of innovative research at universities can help improve the role of these institutions in developing technology and knowledge exchange among different social and economic audiences as well as contribute to more effective interactions between universities and society. The purpose of this article is to identify and report innovation in the field of research, technology, and knowledge exchange in major universities located in Tehran. This research has been carried out quantitatively based on institutional registration data in two steps. First, the components of the model or conceptual framework were identified through an unsystematic review of the documents. The components include innovation in inputs, processes, and outputs. Inputs encompass human and financial resources aw well as infrastructure; processes involve structures, organizations, mechanisms, and procedures; and outputs comprise of creation and application of knowledge and technology, demand-oriented research projects, the quantity and quality of published scientific articles, books, journals, faculty members' scientific ranks, honors they possess, the expansion of postgraduate education, technological units, start-ups, knowledge-based companies and accelerators, international scientific mobility, and income in the field of research, technology, and knowledge exchange. Second, the state of innovation in eight universities under study has been analyzed in the context of research, technology, and knowledge exchange. In these universities, innovation was found to exist in both concept and perspective: innovation in the research and technology system and its elements and components, and the support of universities and the university research and technology system for transformation and innovation to address stagnation, stasis, and recession. Universities have undergone significant transformation and innovation in research inputs, processes, and outputs, technology, and knowledge exchange, hence, they actively support and promote innovation.