The aim of this research is to investigate the status of innovation in governance and leadership of Iran's top level universities. In this qualitative research, a conceptual model in 17 dimensions was designed by reviewing documents and articles by combining the model of Burton Clark Innovative University and the Guiding Framework of European Innovative Universities. Then, data from universities Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Sharif, Tarbiat Modares, Amirkabir, Allameh Tabatabai, Science and Technology of Iran, Khajeh Nasir al-Din Toosi, has been collected. Based on real data, it is shown that Iranian universities and top level universities, despite some issues, shortcomings and dysfunctions are full of positive developments and small, medium, large, gradual and fundamental innovations. The innovation of level one universities in the field of governance and leadership is evaluated in the framework of the research guide and conceptual model and in the descriptive area of "moderate". Also, among the dimensions and elements of innovation in governance and leadership, the dimension of "governing of the Board of Trustees" has the lowest score in the descriptive area of "very weak situation" and the dimension of "structure and organization" and the dimension of "planning and monitoring" has the highest score in the descriptive area. "Excellent condition" has been assessed.