To achieve regional development, there must be an articulation between the university, the company, the state and society, which allows the generation of projects aimed at promoting the sustainable development of the populations. Therefore, the objective of this review article is to disseminate the results of research related to the management models of research and extension of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), which generate an impact on regional development. An exploration was carried out in three databases, where inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, to then select the articles with the highest number of citations. Among the main findings, the existence of nascent strategies on management models related to systemic thinking, but little implemented in HEIs internationally, was identified. In conclusion, it is important to expand the knowledge about these strategies and carry out pilot tests in universities with different characteristics. © 2021, Associacao Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao. All rights reserved.