Entrepreneurial Transformation in the Middle East: Experiences from Tehran Universities

Abstract

Universities are an important catalyst for regional, economic and social development. Many countries have reformed legislation on academic entrepreneurship, but several research opportunities at the systems, university, and individual levels still exist. The existing literature on entrepreneurial universities provides insights about the entrepreneurial transformation process of universities in developed countries. Our study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the entrepreneurial transformation process of Middle Eastern universities. Adopting the entrepreneurial university framework proposed by Urbano and Guerrero, we explore two universities located in Tehran. This study provides insights about exploring the entrepreneurial transformation process, as well as policies that can stimulate the entrepreneurial activity of universities in developing countries and thus foster regional competitiveness.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial Universities, Institutional Economics, Resource Based-View, Middle East

JEL Classification: M13