**2. Methodology and background**

In this study, content analysis, case study, and document review were used within the scope of qualitative research methods. Case study research is an observational study that examines facts, such as when the boundaries between the case and the content are seen and which multiple sources are presented as evidence of real life. A case study is a typical example of qualitative methodology. It is an in-depth and detailed "limited system" discovery of contextual data, and multiple sources over time [18, 19]. The case study research advocates the viewpoints of cross-case studies and descriptive structures. Eisenhardt asserted that the case study process can be established through the selection of appropriate categories that are similar within the same group or different among groups. Likewise, Eisenhardt suggests that these categories can be selected by the literature review or simply by the investigator(s). In this manner, the main issues discovered through cross-case analysis can be compared with the similar and contradictory literature, and this facilitates achieving and establishing a theoretical consistency.

There are mainly three stages in the design and implementation of the theorybased case study research. In the first stage, the aims, design, and structure of the research are determined, respectively. In the second stage, each case study is carried out under the design. In the third stage, the researcher draws on the findings of the case study and evaluates the contributions of the case study analysis applied to achieve the ultimate objective of the research [20]. The case study approach is considered as the intensive operation or scrutiny of a small number of units or a single unit to design a large class with similar units. The design of the case study has its strengths and weaknesses according to its main research objectives. These are whether the study is for hypothesis testing, whether internal and external validity is a priority, whether the understanding of causal mechanisms or causal effects is more valuable, and whether the scope of causal inference is in-depth or broadwise. These also depend on the structure of the empirical universe of several impact factors. These factors are whether the population of the case study is heterogeneous or homogeneous, whether the causal interest relationship is strong or weak, whether the beneficial variation in key parameters in the population is rare or widespread, and whether the existing data are dense or distributed [21].

The TDZs operating in Turkey were taken into account in the scope of the selection criteria of case study research. The members of the Technology Development Zones Association that are actively operating in Turkey were selected as the UIC interfaces due to the regional limitations and performances of scientific and technological activities. Thus, the data were gathered from the member of these TDZs. It is possible to explain the Triple Helix model in a broadwise sense covering many diversified institutions and organizations operating as the public-universityindustry collaboration (PUIC) interfaces in Turkey, such as the TDZs, TTOs, R&D and design centers, application and research centers or institutes, organized industrial zones, chambers of commerce, chambers of industry and so on. In general, there are 67 TDZs operating in Turkey. The total sales reached in the TDZs until today is approximately 84.8 billion TL, and the total exports are approximately 4.4 billion USD. In this context, the statistical indicators regarding the TDZs' performances are included in **Table 1** [22].

According to **Table 1**, the total number of the TDZs that were announced in Turkey is 85, and 67 of them have started their operations actively. It is seen that a total of 56,689 personnel are employed in 5506 enterprises operating in the TDZs, and 46,108 of them are comprised of personnel working in the field of R&D. Furthermore, it is stated that the Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights registered in the TDZs as of the end of December 2019 are 1653 and 2861 are in the application phase [22].

It was highlighted that the TDZs' management ought to organize activities, such as social associations, meetings, and bring employees from different institutions together for the synergy effect arising from the meeting of academic, industrial, and financial structures on the same platform in the TDZs, which is one of the most crucial public-university-industry collaboration interface organizations. Thus, it was stated that some creative situations, such as the emergence of new innovative ideas, the meeting of project owners and possible financiers, and the exchange of information of employees can only be achieved by providing productive environments [23].

*The Impact of the Strategic Interests and Communicative Actions between the Socially… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94343*


#### **Table 1.**

*The TDZs' statistical indicators in Turkey.*

It was observed that the internet-based platforms, such as "Teknoportal" and "Argeportal" are used in the communication with the internal/external stakeholders of the TDZs, effectively. It is widely acknowledged that many of the TDZs contribute to a certain extent to different CSR projects for the development of their environment as well as their commercial activities. In the analysis of the CSR projects of the selected TDZs, the websites of these relevant organizations were subjected to the content analysis.

The content analysis method is used to analyze the content of documents that use quantitative measures of how often certain elements appear in a text. As a measure of the importance of certain ideas or meanings in a document, the number of contexts that appear in the text are used to highlight particular items. In the content analysis, the content of a document is analyzed according to the frequency with which certain categories of meaning are used. Therefore, content analysis is a useful and important tool for document analysis, providing objective and powerful methods to explore social meanings [24]. In this framework, documents are seen as communication channels between a writer and a reader and these channels contain meaningful messages. Such messages are usually in writing form, but other formats, such as maps, architectural plans, films, and photographs can also be interacted in the communication channels [25].

The documents can be used in printed copies or on the Internet platforms in different formats. In the classical sense, the "Internet" defines the electronic network that connects computers worldwide. The "Internet" written in lowercase is seen as a shortcut for various capacities, infrastructures, or cultural formations facilitated by digital communication networks [26]. Analyzing the documents on the Internet is a way to transfer document reviews to the virtual space [27].

The corporates' documents shared on the official websites owned by the TDZs were used within the scope of this study. Likewise, a context has been established between the environment and quality policies shared institutionally and the CSR understanding of the TDZs. **Table 2** illustrates that there are important CSR project areas that take place in some sample TDZs.

Among the CSR projects included in **Table 2**, financial and physical opportunities (laboratory, office, and computer) are provided to young entrepreneurs who want to realize their innovative projects and establish their companies to take part in the "ITU Ari Cekirdek: Innovation Workshop" project. In addition to the ITU


**Table 2.**

*The CSR project areas realized in the TDZs.*

Ari Technopark, there are stakeholders, such as the Istanbul Development Agency and the Elginkan Foundation among the organizations that support this project [28]. Another CSR project, "Yemekaskisi.com", was realized under the leadership of Yildiz Technopark. The purpose of this project is briefly clarified as follows: The "Yemekaskisi" is a CSR project that aims to support students during the university period and provides free meals to help those in need [29].

Another project carried out to reflect environmental awareness in Yildiz Technopark was entitled "Plant Life for the Future." Through this project, it is aimed to establish effective communication between the TDZ employees and stakeholders. During the plant seedlings, the participants of the project experience a special moment by printing their names on the saplings. This project has also a sustainable dimension that encapsulates a natural relationship between human and plants [30].

The CSR projects carried out jointly with many stakeholders of the TDZs have evolved into different topics by the impact of recent national and international developments. An example of this is the project titled "Common Sense toward the Covid-19." The project was created to seek for an innovative solution and bring life back to normal nationally and globally due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many studies in different disciplines and sectors are expected to bring disruptive solutions to both the current process and possible future scenarios and changes. For this purpose, the Turkey Covid-19 Common Sense Platform was established by entrepreneurs and it brings together mentors and related institutions. The entrepreneurs aim to accelerate the maturation of ideas, necessary support for the implementation of projects, and establishment of cooperation. The platform's stakeholders include 4 universities, 5 techno-cities, 18 enterprises, 4 associations, and 2 foundations [31, 32]. The enterprises within the TDZs provide fast and dynamic answers to the technology produced in the regions and continue to highlight their potential, quality, and functionality. Similarly, enterprises contribute to their products and ideas. Around 160 enterprises operating in 27 TDZs in Turkey are engaged in socio-economic terms in the fight against the Covid-19 [33].

In the light of the above-mentioned considerations, entrepreneurial universities, which act with social responsibility awareness, increase their activities in the direction of developing the UIC ecosystem through collaborations with the interface structures (e.g., the TDZs, TTOs, research centers, and so on). In particular, the technology development regions brought together universities and other stakeholders based on the projects and their contribution to the strengthening of this cooperation is quite significant. The physical infrastructures created by the TDZs and financial resources attract startups to the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and form a base for the establishments of new startups and spin-off *The Impact of the Strategic Interests and Communicative Actions between the Socially… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94343*

enterprises. It can also be put forward that the TDZs, where technological developments are intense, have an important role in providing solutions to the necessities arising in different fields (e.g., health, security, employment, social life, etc.).
