Purpose: This study responds to the need for further research to examine determinants that impact innovation creation in higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach: The study is a quantitative analysis; it uses 133 responses derived from respondents from several universities in Indonesia. The data are analyzed by using SEM-PLS. In the analysis, after having the inner model, then, the outer model is calculated. The research establishes a 95% confidence interval and conducts 500 bootstraps. Findings: The results of this study indicate, firstly, the business and university partnerships, entrepreneurship orientation, and information technology facilities significantly influence innovation creation; secondly, measuring the impact in universities will strengthen the business and university partnerships, entrepreneurship orientation, and information technology facilities on the innovation creation. Research limitations/implications: This research implies that universities need to measure the impact and develop a proper measurement to enhance innovation through their relationship with their industrial partnerships and information technology facilities. However, the research has a limitation; the study is only conducted in state universities. Practical implications: The research measures the impact of the university--business partnership, entrepreneurship orientation, and IT facility. These determinants' effectiveness needs a measurement scheme to improve the innovation creation outputs, quantity, and quality. Originality/value: Universities have an essential role in developing entrepreneurship competence for students and staff by nurturing innovation creation. It will benefit the staff in managing tasks and the students after they graduate to create businesses. This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of determinants that affect innovation creation in higher education institutions in Indonesia.