The Role of Universities in the Development of Social Innovation: Identifying Research Trends, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Directions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student in Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Given the increasing complexity of social and environmental challenges and the evolving role of universities in the 21st century, the present study aims to identify scientific trends, knowledge gaps, and future research directions regarding the role of universities in the development of social innovation. This study focuses on the third mission of universities and seeks to define their position as key actors in generating social value, facilitating multi-sectoral collaborations, and achieving sustainable development.

Methodology: This study employs a bibliometric analysis combined with scientific visualization. The sample includes academic articles published in Q1-ranked journals indexed in Scopus between 2015 and August 2025. A systematic screening process was conducted to ensure that only articles directly related to the role of universities in developing social innovation were included, while other types of documents and irrelevant studies were excluded. Ultimately, 163 relevant articles were selected for analysis. In the data analysis phase, BibExcel software was used for data cleaning, standardization, and preparation of bibliometric data. Then, VOSviewer was used for network analysis and scientific visualization, mapping the co-authorship networks, international collaborations, leading institutions, and clusters of co-occurring keywords.

Findings: The analysis revealed an upward trend in the volume of scientific output in this field over the past decade, with 2022 marking the peak year, featuring 25 published articles. The UK, Italy, and the United States are the leading countries in this domain, with the highest number of citations attributed to their scholars. In terms of institutions, HSE University in Russia and Lund University in Sweden have contributed the most to the publication of articles. Moreover, the journal Technological Forecasting and Social Change emerged as the most influential publication in this field, with 15 articles and 1377 citations. Cluster analysis of keywords revealed four main conceptual streams: first, “Systemic Innovation for Sustainability”, emphasizing the link between sustainable development, novel business models, and circular economy; second, “Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship within Governance and Civil Society”, highlighting the role of policymaking, civil society, and social enterprises in innovation; third, “Education and Inclusive Innovation for Empowerment and Competitiveness”, underlining the importance of higher education in promoting social justice and competitive capacity; and fourth, “Universities as Key Actors in Social Innovation”, reflecting the direct role of universities in generating social knowledge and their socio-economic impact.

Conclusion: The evolution of research over the past decade has moved from initial conceptualization (pre-2019) to theoretical maturity (2019–2020), to ecosystemic and network approaches (2021–2022), and finally to a focus on performance measurement and scalability (2022 onward). This shift indicates that universities are increasingly acting as intermediary institutions bridging science, society, and the economy, playing a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development goals. By providing a comprehensive overview of scientific trends and future directions, this study offers a framework for future research, data-driven policymaking, and rethinking the third mission of universities. Overall, the success of university-driven social innovation relies on the synergy between systemic approaches, participatory governance, education, and empowerment.

Keywords

References

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Applied Scientometric Studies
Volume 2, Issue 3 - Serial Number 7
November 2025
Pages 1-24

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