Identifying the factors affecting the regional innovation system (with emphasis on Iran)

One of the features of new theories of development is that it considers dynamism at the regional level, innovation, production and transfer of knowledge as a key factor in regional development. Accordingly, innovation at the regional level is mainly done through collective learning and synergy between different actors who work inside and outside the organization. The central goal of this article is to identify the factors affecting the regional innovation system. In order to investigate the impact of different variables on the rate of regional innovation, the panel model related to the variables of one hundred and fifty countries during the years 2017-2013 has been used. Then, according to the hypotheses and diagnostic tests using panel data and the fixed effects pattern method, the relationship between innovation and the factors affecting it is examined. The results confirm that the variables of R&D expenditures, industry and university participation in R&D, access to the latest technology and finally higher education and patent programs have a positive and significant effect on countries' innovation.