Entrepreneurial ecosystems in developing countries: Validating a scale for university–industry nexus in higher education

An ecosystem approach is essential for fostering entrepreneurship, as it accounts for complex interactions between entities and their environment. This study uses a mixed-methods, exploratory sequential design with two stages: qualitative followed by quantitative. In the first stage, a multi-case study identified key elements of Iran’s entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) through semi-structured interviews with 15 experts from 10 provinces, analyzed using MAXQDA20. In the second stage, a quantitative study validated these elements and developed a reliable scale. A structured questionnaire was administered to 122 professors from seven agricultural colleges, with data analyzed using SPSS26 and SmartPLS3. Findings categorized the EE into three elements: actions (policy, economic factors, culture, communication, social factors), actors (private sector, government, universities, support institutions, mentors, technology assistants, orchestrators, intermediaries), and requirements (soft and hard infrastructure, business plans, practical courses, physical spaces). All elements were validated. Results show a circular interconnection of elements and highlight the need for government intervention to promote policy, long-term strategies, and globalization of knowledge-based enterprises.