Journal of the Knowledge Economy

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01184-1

Who Are the Actors of Quadruple and Quintuple Helix?

Multiple Cases in Consolidated Science and Technology Parks

Andréa Aparecida da Costa Mineiro1 · Cleber Carvalho de Castro2 ·

Marcelo Gonçalves do Amaral3

Received: 26 January 2021 / Accepted: 21 February 2023

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
2023

Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify if actors’ role in Quadruple and Quintuple
Helix in consolidated Brazilian Science and Technology Parks aligns with Carayannis
and Campbell’s (2009) proposition in their seminal paper. To this end, we carried out
multiple case studies in three consolidated Science and Technology Parks (STPs). We
collected data from primary (interviews and field notes) and secondary sources (docu-
ments), and used them for data triangulation. As to data treatment, we used content
analysis by frequency and topic. The three parks have different ways of viewing the
Quadruple Helix, but converge on the Quintuple Helix. They perceive society as asso-
ciations, collectives or communities, and even as a single identity, such as Pacto Alegre.
Opinions of the managers and Quadruple Helix representatives agree about the actions
of associations and collectives and ways of strengthening environments. Concerning
the Quintuple Helix, the study contributes with the perception of environmental sus-
tainability as the basis, and focuses on the dissemination of impact businesses among
companies by parks’ managers. We only noticed the Quadruple Helix described in that
seminal paper in the collectives and in Pacto Alegre, present in two of the STPs exam-
ined. Finally, the study shows an active society capable of fostering public policies and
reviewing how Science and Technology Parks act, going from a foundation to a strong
actor that mobilizes the ecosystem.

Keywords Quadruple and quintuple helix · Science and technology parks · Collectives

* Andréa Aparecida da Costa Mineiro

andreamineiro@unifei.edu.br
Extended author information available on the last page of the article

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Introduction

Innovation is one of the main elements of the current socioeconomic dynamics

(Machado et al., 2018). New configurations emerge in this dynamics through
goods and services’ production, such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the
Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Smart Cities, which change prod-
ucts, processes, and production systems (Slusarczyk, 2018).
In addition to business dynamics, regional innovation models and policies also
undergo changes through technological trends, implying new configurations of actors
(Aranguren et al., 2018). The metaphor of the Triple Helix (TH), formed by the links
between actors of university-industry-government spheres, proposed by Etzkowitz and
Leydesdorff (1995), was strengthened with new models of innovation creation, includ-
ing civil society (Quadruple Helix—QH) and the natural environment (Quintuple
Helix). The two new helices bring additional innovation dynamics and configure the
Mode 3 of knowledge production (Carayannis & Campbell, 2009, 2011, 2021). Innova-
tion environments also change with new technological trends (Machado et al., 2018).
For example, Science and Technology Parks (STPs), which are more structured inno-
vation environments, are perceived as strategic instruments to promote interaction and
cooperation for innovation (National Association of Entities for Promoting Innovative
Ventures [Anprotec], 2015). There was an evolution of this concept, and STPs became
part of innovation areas, embedded in cities, with constant interaction with the urban
fabric; they are non-uniform environments, with a high level of collaboration and flex-
ibility, for improving the community’s quality of life (Audy & Piqué, 2016). According
to Anprotec (2019a), STPs’ last generation consists of spaces that focus on improving
local society wealth, while Etzkowitz and Zhou (2018) describe them as the best exam-
ple of the hybrid and consensual space of the Triple Helix model, where socioeconomic
development goals intersect with Science, Market, and Civil Society.
Despite this technological growth, both in businesses and in models of innovation
environments, some studies highlight the need to understand the new actors in STPs,
the Quadruple and Quintuple Helix (QQH). Pascoal and Cabrita (2016) mention that
the numerous challenges faced by STPs have paved the way to new approaches and
more complex support structures. For Laguna and Durán-Romero (2017), the litera-
ture on sustainability initiatives in STPs and the role they should play in promoting
more sustainable strategies is somewhat limited. Machado et al. (2018) observe that
the challenging role of STPs consists of interactions for articulating the interests of the
new agents of innovation models, such as the QQH. Amaral et al. (2020a) examined the
publication agenda of academic researchers and practitioners, and found a common
focus on the impact of STPs in regional development, but a low concern about the par-
ticipation of society’s actors; the environment and sustainability topics are not relevant
in their agenda. From these considerations, the research question emerged: how inno-
vation areas like STPs address the new helices? How do the Quadruple and Quintuple
Helix strengthen the environments in which they are inserted? Is there a connection of
these perceptions with the seminal paper by Carayannis and Campbell (2009)?
Therefore, the paper objective was to identify if actors’ role in Quadruple and
Quintuple Helix in consolidated Brazilian Science and Technology Parks aligns

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with the proposition by Carayannis and Campbell (2009) in their seminal paper. To
this end, we established the following specific objectives: (i) to investigate the per-
ception of STPs’ managers about the representatives of Quadruple and Quintuple
Helix; (ii) identify the contributions of the Quadruple Helix to the analyzed STPs
from the perception of its representatives; and (iii) to discuss if the perception of QH
representatives aligns with that proposed in the Quadruple Helix original literature.

Theoretical Background

The Quadruple and Quintuple Helix (QQH)

The Triple Helix (TH) was applied initially in Biology, to shape the relationships
between genes, organisms, and environments. Later, in a different context, Etzkowitz
and Leydesdorff (1995, 2000), and Leydesdorff (2000, 2003) analyzed the relationships
between universities, companies, and government. These three actors bring with them a
set of entities—the university represents the institutions that create knowledge; compa-
nies represent the production sector and knowledge users; and the government provides
funding and minimizes difficulties for establishing an innovation culture, through bodies
that regulate and foster economic development (Amaral et al., 2020b).
The interactions intrinsic to the agents (university, company, and government) are
essential to improve the conditions for innovation in an innovative society (Etzkowitz &
Leydesdorff, 1995; Lombardi et al., 2012). Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff (1995) stressed
the need to understand the social context where helices were embedded. These authors
and Etzkowitz (2018) mentioned the civil society, in the traditional model of TH, as a
driver and basis of innovation processes.
The growing importance of the TH model led to the emergence of a rich body
of theoretical and empirical research to discuss new models for innovation crea-
tion (Lombardi et al., 2012), and their relationship with and within society. New
approaches emerged, named Quadruple Helix—QH (Society) and Quintuple Helix
(Environment) (Carayannis & Campbell, 2009, 2011).
Carayannis and Campbell (2009) and Lombardi et al. (2012) call QH the organized
civil society, associated with media and culture perspectives, which comprises creative
industries, culture, values, lifestyles, art, and a creative class. Society still encompasses
innovation users (Arnkil et al., 2010; Carayannis et al., 2017); financial organizations
(Colapinto & Porlezza, 2012); citizens and workers (Grundel & Dahlstrom, 2016;
Campanella et al., 2017); non-governmental organizations [NGOs] or associations
(Grundel & Dahlstrom, 2016; Kolehmainen et al., 2016; Nordberg, 2015), in addition
to being a multi-actor arena (Hasche et al., 2019).
QH represents “other actors” that occupy a strategic position and have a promi-
nent role in expressing their needs and demands in the social group (Mulyaningsih,
2015). In this sense, arenas and spaces are needed, where different QH actors can
share and discuss group visions (Kolehmainen et al., 2016).
Therefore, QH can have distinct definitions that vary according to the context, and
the value they create for innovation activities (Hasche et al., 2019). Society must be
seen as a whole, including users, organizations, citizens, etc., an arena where actors

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assume different roles and relationships, in order to add value to the context where they
are embedded. This arena of multiple actors can be perceived in the collectives, which
are open, organic, nonpartisan, and horizontal systems, which connect companies and
important actors in an innovation ecosystem (Mineiro et al., 2019). Collectives have the
same relevance as other TH actors, because they reflect people’s vision and demand,
with high capacity to mobilize and represent society.
Society can act in different ways: (i) by promoting the connection between TH
actors, citizens, and users (Nordberg, 2015); (ii) by changing consumer behavior,
production standards, norms, and values (Grundel & Dahlstrom, 2016); (iii) by
strengthening the region, through the attraction of new entities (Kolehmainen et al.,
2016); and (iv) by acting in collaboration with ecosystem partners, helping to create
innovative ecosystems and improve regional development (McAdam et al., 2016).
In addition to society, issues regarding environmental sustainability should also
be considered for a development that is not aggressive to the planet. Hence, the
Quintuple Helix emerges as a model based on TH and QH, incorporating the envi-
ronment topic by considering the growing concern with global warming and sustain-
able matters (Carayannis & Campbell, 2011; Carayannis et al., 2017).
Over the years, environmental issues have become increasingly serious. Several
countries have gathered to develop strategies and plans for the planet’s sustainability,
in order to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emis-
sions (Chen et al., 2013). Among these strategies, the 2030 Agenda of the United
Nations (UN) stands out, a document with transformation measures for promot-
ing sustainable development. The plan defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), with 169 objectives for eradicating poverty and promoting life with dignity,
considering the planet’s limits (UN, 2015).
Among SDGs, twelve relate to aspects of environmental sustainability, including
climate issues. There is concern for sustainable water and sanitation management,
access to renewable energy, sustainable economic development, sustainable cities,
the pursuit of sustainable production and consumption patterns, measures to fight
climate change and oceans’ conservation, terrestrial ecosystems and forests (UN,
2015). Global warming is an ecological issue that demands sustainable solutions
from society (Carayannis & Campbell, 2011).
Grundel and Dahlstrom (2016) observe that changing towards a sustainable society
requires innovations driven by challenges and new collaborations between more actors.
QQH models were designed to handle a greater complexity in knowledge production
and application (innovation); thus, the architecture of these models is wider, involv-
ing Mode 3 of knowledge production (Carayannis et al., 2016). Knowledge Production
Mode 1 focuses on basic research and the linear model of innovation, which states that
basic research occurs at the university and is gradually spread throughout society and
the economy. Mode 2 emphasizes knowledge-based applications and problem solving.
In this scenario, the focus is on the production of knowledge for application, and is
based on the non-linear model of innovation (Campbell & Carayannis, 2012; Gibbons,
1992). Knowledge Generation Mode 3 considers a creative and grounded knowledge
production process, based on the interaction of different actors, creators, and users of
knowledge and technology (Carayannis & Rakhmatullin, 2014). The sophistication of

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QQH is that it combines Mode 1 and Mode 2 of knowledge creation as an interactive

system (Carayannis & Campbell, 2021).

The Quadruple and Quintuple Helix in Technology Parks

STPs have the role of creating an environment that provides conditions for inno-
vation industry to be born, grow, and add value to other economic sectors and the
society as a whole (Anprotec, 2015). IASP (2015) strengthens that STPs’ innovation
areas are highly specialized and have a key role in local development.
Audy and Piqué (2016) argue that innovation areas, including STPs, present a
diversity of possibilities, being a diffuse space in cities, with technology and innova-
tion as the basis for improving citizens’ quality of life. For Audy and Knebel (2015),
STPs’ rationale is to make knowledge go beyond their walls and turn into a benefit
for society. Thus, STPs cease to be a space in the city, becoming the city (Audy &
Piqué, 2016). They exist in constant connection with society, influencing city plan-
ning and development strategies (Parry, 2018).
Society can be represented in different ways in STPs: (i) as associations (Mulyaningsih,
2015), which are class entities that represent business or commercial sectors; (ii) as citizens
or innovation users (Campanella et al., 2017); (iii) acting in co-innovation by empowering
and connecting all those that add value to the innovation ecosystem (Machado et al., 2018);
and (iv) as a non-representation by an actor or institution, which is generally perceived
(Pascoal & Cabrita, 2016).
Concerning QH work, Mulyaningsih (2015) considers that the association has
the role of encouraging the improvement of ICT (Information and Communication
Technology) companies in STPs, in addition to supporting the local government for
economic growth. Campanella et al. (2017) consider this helix as an explanatory
variable that supports the importance of collaboration with users and consumers
for creating innovation. For Machado et al. (2018), society participates in the inno-
vation dynamics, including different forms of marketing. At QH, everyone creates
value within the innovation ecosystem where STPs are located. These authors iden-
tified different forms of interaction with society, such as job creation in the region;
increase of local suppliers; scientific, cultural, and sport activities; job creation in
the park; networks with local companies; access to restaurants and stores within the
park and leisure activities; and contracts with local firms.
Quintuple Helix does not present itself as an actor. Laguna and Durán-Romero
(2017) reinforce that STPs are drivers of sustainable public policies and dissemina-
tors of sustainable practices among companies, while Machado et al. (2018) associ-
ate Quintuple Helix with the natural environment and eco-entrepreneurship.
Concerning the role of Quintuple Helix, Laguna and Durán-Romero (2017)
observe that STPs’ responsibility toward sustainability comes from the interaction
with universities, and takes many forms, such as: (i) reduction of the initial envi-
ronmental impact, as real estate developers; (ii) fostering sustainable practices in
spin-offs, startups, and companies located in the park; (iii) encouraging the develop-
ment of sustainable innovations that fight environmental deterioration; (iv) influence
on green growth, disseminating a sustainable strategic culture among the associate

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companies; and (v) an additional role as a spillover agent of sustainable knowledge,

used by associate companies for their surroundings. For Machado et al. (2018),
the Quintuple Helix operates in sustainable development through (i) incentives for
ecological innovation; (ii) incentives for eco-entrepreneurship; (iii) preservation of
natural resources; (iv) activities addressed to sustainable development; (v) improve-
ment of quality of life; and (vi) promotion of cultural and social values.

Method

This work has an exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative nature. Exploratory

research aims to refine ideas and discover intuitions. Descriptive research reports the
characteristics of a given phenomenon (Gil, 2008). In the qualitative approach, the
researcher is more interested in understanding the meaning that participants attribute
to the investigated phenomenon (Godoy, 2005).
We carried out the research with multiple case studies in three Brazilian STPs that
fit the criteria of ‘consolidated STPs’, proposed by Anprotec (2018). A consolidated
STP has been in operation for at least 5 years and has 80% of the basic elements of
Infrastructure, Management and Governance, and Operation already implemented
(Anprotec 2018). Multiple cases provide more robust evidence and information in
order to compare their experience for enriching the research (Yin, 2014).
In addition to Anprotec’s selection criterion (2018), we also considered the following:
(i) operating for more than ten years; (ii) more than one hundred companies located in
the STP; (iii) more than five thousand people circulating around it; (iv) located in differ-
ent regions of the country; (v) received awards from national institutions associated to
innovation environments; and (iv) researchers with access to parks’ data.
The chosen STPs were: Technology Park of São José dos Campos (TPSJC), Porto
Digital, and Tecnopuc. Table 1 shows summarized information on location, compa-
nies, lifetime, and people who circulate in the environments daily.
According to Anprotec (2019b), national STPs have 1337 firms in the national
territory. The 3 selected STPs have 804, representing 60% of the national compa-
nies, which strengthens the representation of these environments. We contacted
the managers of these three STPs at the 2018 Anprotec National Conference, and
they agreed to provide data for the research. We used primary and secondary data.
Regarding primary sources, we used field notes and interviews. The secondary data
sources were reports and information available on STPs’ websites and documents

Table 1  STPs’ numbers

TPSJC Porto Digital Tecnopuc

Location São José dos Recife—PE Porto Alegre—RS

Campos—SP
Established companies and associates 326 328 150
Years active 13 years 19 years 16 years
People circulating in the STP 6400 9500 7000

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collected during the interviews. Therefore, we adopted data triangulation. Accord-

ing to Lincoln and Guba (1986) and Godoy (2005), the use of data triangulation
methods ensures credibility to a study, since the results obtained are reliable and
approved by the own builders of that social reality.
We collected documents from the three STPs in March and April 2019. We con-
ducted face-to-face interviews with STPs managers (15) and QH representatives
(13), and gathered field notes, from May to June 2019. They were identified in the
documents and during interviews. Table 2 summarizes the interviewees in each of
the STPs and presents the codification.
Managers are from Technology Parks, heads of departments from different areas;
all managers interviewed in the 3 selected STPs respond directly to the STP director.
As to the Quadruple Helix representatives, we summarized them in Table 3; they
comprise distinct associations, collectives, and Pacto Alegre, indicated by STPs’
managers as the most representative for the innovation environment.
The interviews followed a semi-structured script, where STPs managers were
asked how they perceived actors from Quadruple and Quintuple Helix. On the other
hand, QH representatives were questioned about their contribution to the parks
where they are inserted.
Regarding data treatment, we conducted content analysis by frequency and
theme. Content analysis by frequency consists of identifying the answers and group-
ing them according to the question, by using descriptive statistics. On the other
hand, the thematic analysis seeks to find out the nuclei of meaning that make up a
communication of the topic, present in respondents’ speeches (Bardin, 2016).

Result Analysis

Initially, we characterize the cases, based on the collected documents and on the selec-
tion criteria of technology parks. STPs’ managers were asked about how the Quadruple
Helix was represented, how it strengthened the STP, and how the Quintuple Helix was
perceived. QH representatives were asked about the main roles they represent in STPs.
The Technology Park of São José dos Campos is the pioneer technology park in
the state of São Paulo, created in 2006, with the purpose of promoting the region’s
development, through the creation of new technologies, products, and processes.
It has more than 188 thousand square meters, and a project for expansion to 15.8

Table 2  People interviewed at TPSJC Porto Digital Tecnopuc Total

STPs
Managers 5 5 5 15
Associations 1 4 2 7
Collectives 1* 2 2 5
Pacto Alegre 1 1
Total 7 11 10 28

*There is only 1 collective at TPSJC

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Table 3  Definition of Quadruple Helix representatives
Characterization TPSJC Porto Digital Tecnopuc

(PA2), national association of IT (Information Technology) companies, characterized as an institution for educa- X
tion and support for the development of local IT firms
(PA1 and TA1), class entity, representing the country’s electrical sector X X
(PA3 and TA2), class entity for IT, software, and internet firms, operates in the connection and regulatory aspects X X
of these firms
(SA1), industry national association, operates for the segments of agriculture and cattle raising, food, defense, X
energy, infrastructure, oil and gas, metal-mechanic, sanitation, and industry 4.0
(PA4) (employer’s institution that promotes the union of actors in the IT sector) X
Manguezal, community of startups and city people to support collaborative practices and technology learning, X
design, and entrepreneurship in the whole ecosystem of initialization
RGE, global movement of entrepreneurs, with the purpose of fostering the city’s entrepreneurship ecosystem X
Paraíba Valley, movement of startups created to turn the region into a development hub of new ideas and tech- X
nologies
Cacto, movement to foster entrepreneurship for impact businesses X
POA Inquieta, movement to foster creative economy for changing the city X
Pacto Alegre, created in 2018, but born from a movement more than 20 years old, has 75 to 80 institutions or
persons involved
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million square meters, in an area known as the Special Perimeter of TPSJC, which
will lead to the creation of the Technological City. Among the areas of expertise are
the aerospace and defense sectors, automotive chain, oil and gas, and information
and communication technologies. The Nexus environment of TPSJC was among the
10 best innovation hubs in the country in the Startup Awards, in 2019 and 2020,
conceived by the Brazilian Association of Startups (ABStartups).
Porto Digital is one of the first technology parks in Brazil, founded in 2000, and
has been working in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Creative
Economy, and Urban Technologies since 2015. It is located in Pernambuco, in four
districts of the city. It is an urban technology park, responsible for the restoration of
138 thousand square meters of historic properties. The region it occupies has been
restored and requalified in economic, urban, and real estate terms, besides the recov-
ery of historical heritage. The park is the result of a coordinated action between gov-
ernment, universities, and companies. Anprotec acknowledged it as the best Tech-
nology Park in Brazil in 2007, 2011, and 2015. In addition, it is one of the seven
global innovation clusters mentioned in Engel (2014).
Tecnopuc was created in 2001, in Rio Grande do Sul, and has three units. It has
a constructed area of 90,000 m ­ 2 and is connected to the university, by sharing labo-
ratories and research centers. It operates in the areas of ICT, Creative Industry, Life
Sciences, Energy, and Environment. Anprotec recognized it as the best Technology
Park in Brazil, in 2004, 2009, and 2016. It also received international recognition
from IASP, as one of the winners of the “Inspiring Solutions” category, in 2015.

Perception of Consolidated STPs’ Managers About Quadruple and Quintuple Helix

STPs’ managers were questioned on how the Quadruple and Quintuple Helix was
represented. As to the Quadruple Helix representatives, we summarized them in
Table 3; they comprise distinct associations, collectives, and Pacto Alegre, indicated
by STPs’ managers as the most representative for the innovation environment.
From Table 3 data, STPs perceive society in different ways. Associations are rep-
resentation entities of a sector and are located within the STP. Collectives or com-
munities are social movements, organic, horizontal, non-partisan, cross-sectional,
and ­WhatsApp® is one of their main communication channels. Meanwhile, Pacto
Alegre is a movement of the organized civil society to join forces for transforming
the city into an innovation hub, by attracting investments and entrepreneurship.
Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff (1995), Etzkowitz (2018), and Cai and Etzkowitz
(2020) had already mentioned civil society in the TH model as the driver and
ground of innovation processes. One manager observed that, in TH traditional
model, society was considered a sub-extract of the environment; but this changed
over time, and the organized civil society became very strong, no longer just the
basis, and assumed equal relevance to the other actors, because it reflects people’s
vision and demands, represented by groups with high mobilization capacity.
In addition to considerations about society, environmental issues also need to be
addressed for sustainable development (Carayannis & Campbell, 2011; Carayannis
et al., 2017). We asked managers about the existence of the Quintuple Helix in the

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Table 4  Quintuple Helix perception in STPs

TPSJC Porto Digital Tecnopuc
Categories % Categories % Categories %

Goes through all the helices 60 Impact businesses 60 Represented in society 40

Represented in society 40 Actions related to 60 Impact businesses 40
environmental
sustainability
Actions related to 20 Goes through all the helices 20 Actions related to 40
environmental sustainability environmental
sustainability
Much more than a helix, it is a 20 Sustainable strategies 20 Goes through all the helices 20
background

three STPs studied. None of them considers Quintuple Helix as an actor. Addition-
ally, we asked about their perception of environmental sustainability in STPs, and
Table 4 shows a synthesis of the results.
There are similarities on how environments that emphasize sustainable initia-
tives perceive sustainability (Laguna & Durán-Romero, 2017). Managers in the
three STPs observed that sustainability is a guiding value for the actions developed.
STPs must respect the concepts of social, cultural, and environmental development
that surround the environment, reinforcing Carayannis and Campbell (2011) and
Grundel and Dahlstrom’s (2016) proposal.
Managers of the three STPs reported actions related to sustainability in their envi-
ronments, including (i) selective collection, water reuse, green areas conservation; (ii)
use of an artesian well; (iii) buildings with green roofs; and (iv) use of renewable
energy. Porto Digital tests sustainable actions that can be replicated in the city or in
other locations, such as bicycles, electric cars, and shared scooters; and possibilities
related to decarbonization projects and shared autonomous vehicles.
Both Tecnopuc and Porto Digital’s management encourage sustainable practices
in spin-offs, startups, and companies located at the STP (Laguna & Durán-Romero,
2017), noticed by prospecting impact businesses, since the growth of the company
is considered an economic and social impact. Both STPs are mapping the process of
development and creation of new businesses and startups, by building impact assess-
ment indicators provided by the companies, which they will monitor periodically.
One Porto Digital manager said that the goal is for every business to have a connec-
tion with at least one of the SDGs (UN, 2015).

Contribution of Quadruple Helix to STPs

When we asked interviewees on how they could strengthen the STPs where they
are located, there was no similarity among the studied environments, and two asso-
ciations mentioned that they do not enhance the environment. We organized data in
relation to associations, collectives, and Pacto Alegre.
At TPSJC, the association strengthens the environment, because it connects sec-
tors and integrates distinct institutions in events held at STP, assists companies with

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the legislation, on legal and labor issues, through training courses; it also supports
product development in technical aspects and search for suppliers in their fields of
operation. At Tecnopuc, the association is part of STPs’ history and spreads through-
out its territory, training its associates on the most recent legislation and preparing
them for new challenges of regulations.
Regarding Porto Digital, associations have been anchors for the STP and have
matured with the ecosystem. One of them started by creating firms, since the STP
was in the beginning and needed companies for consolidating. A second role was
to improve the quality of products manufactured in that environment through tests,
when they were so bad that could not be tested. After this stage, associations acted
in prospecting new markets, both for big companies and for startups located in the
STP. In addition, another element that distinguishes this environment is the combi-
nation of two associations and one union. The three institutions decide, develop pro-
jects, and rule jointly, since there are members from all of them in the management
boards of each one. These institutions dialogue permanently with Porto Digital, act-
ing on their needs, which currently relate to workforce training.
Regarding the associations that mentioned not strengthening the environment,
there is no relation between companies’ sectors and firms located at the STP. One of
them said that the STP is more a room rental condominium than a technology park,
because each entity works in its own world, almost without connection with the park
and the university, with no actions to foster the relationship between them.
On the other hand, collectives strengthen STPs through a movement of internal and
external connection, since there is always a combination of people in the collective. It is
fluid and natural, helping STPs in connections with the outside. The collective helps con-
necting people that are starting and do not know the paths to entrepreneurship, by making
themselves available to beginners, highlighting the roles of each entity in the ecosystem.
Collectives strengthen their environments in different ways. In TPSJC, it attracts
new firms to the STP and to the city. In Tecnopuc, one of the collectives contributes
for a change of view on innovation, that it does not result only from technology, but
from creativity, so that the environment can include more people, and go beyond a
mere technological discussion.
At Porto Digital, the collective brought to STP the possibility of renewing the
oldest institutions, by incorporating members of the collective to them. They brought
a more innovative mentality, strengthening the sense of collectivity and teamwork.
The collective is a place of speech for reinforcing topics within the ecosystem. One
of the collective leaders at Porto Digital mentioned that the collective would assume
roles of formalized institutions in an evolved ecosystem:
“I think that if the ecosystem is mature enough, (...), and things will solve by them-
selves, we don’t need an association, right? People’s own network organization
meets these needs for association, right? Hence, in a really mature ecosystem, with
everything working well, with everyone having a mindset of: “I will help, I will col-
laborate, I will cooperate..”, we do not need a formal association, neither entities
like Management, which organizes our ecosystem as a whole. Therefore, with entre-
preneurs with a well-resolved mentality, the trend is to need less institutionalized
things, and the organic will solve these issues. If, suddenly, we need to host an event

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to introduce the ecosystem to the world, we will do. Do we need an association for
it? No, we can organize it and do it alone; thus, if we have something really mature,
in the future, we can dismiss these associations”.
Finally, we mention Pacto Alegre, which is the representation of QH in Porto
Alegre. Pacto Alegre is a cultural revolution, and became a platform for action.
When we asked Pacto Alegre leaders about Pacto’s contributions to STPs, they
reported that it is more than a process for attracting resources, projects, and financ-
ing; it provides a welcoming and pleasant environment for people to work, providing
quality of life, safety, access to culture, leisure, health, education, and mobility. An
excerpt from one of Pacto Alegre documents mentions:
“We are a movement that seeks to turn Porto Alegre into a reference as a
world-class global ecosystem innovation, which leverages our competencies,
based on values and purpose, by retaining and attracting talents. (...) We
base our action on creativity, new technologies and innovation, with people
as agents of society’s change, with a high social and environmental impact,
and of businesses, from startups to large companies. We cooperate and act
TOGETHER in building an inspiring environment that contributes to the crea-
tion of a better future for our city and for the people who are part of it”.
Pacto Alegre strengthens the STP, because it is a movement for changing Porto
Alegre into a more attractive city for businesses. It comprises more than 70 entities,
with representatives from university, government, companies, associations, finan-
ciers, and collectives, and characterized as a Pact of the Movements. It is a new
version of a movement that has operated in the city for more than 20 years. It has
matured and may become a platform for the collective transformation of the city; an
ecosystem that has finally understood that a collective can be more important than
an individual. Pacto Alegre is a cultural revolution and became a platform for action.
It is associated with the vision of the park’s latest Strategic Planning, which seeks to
overflow the ecosystem towards the city.

Discussion

The three STPs addressed perceive the Quadruple Helix differently, as associations,
Collectives, and Pacto Alegre.
Associations contribute to STPs with sectorial aspects related to regulation, leg-
islation, and taxation, besides being an actor for STPs’ connection and mobilization
(Nordberg, 2015). They also act in collaboration with ecosystem’s partners to help
co-creating innovative ecosystems for improving companies’ operation and regional
development (McAdam et al., 2016). Although one of the association managers has
described himself as an actor of the Quadruple Helix, the surveyed associations rep-
resent business sector, in ICT or Energy. Hence, associations assume Etzkowitz and
Leydesdorff’s (1995) proposal, of being an institution that represents companies, and

13
Journal of the Knowledge Economy

not having the role of an Organized Civil Society or innovation user, as proposed by
Carayannis and Campbell (2009), Arnkil et al. (2010), and Carayannis et al. (2017).
On the other hand, actors pointed out as Collectives and Pacto Alegre can be
considered a representation of the Quadruple Helix as Civil Society, according to
Carayannis and Campbell (2009), Mulyaningsih (2015), Carayannis et al. (2017),
and Aranguren et al. (2018). Collectives are organized movements, representing dis-
tinct institutions, and also people that need their place of speech; society is not a
sub-extract anymore and has become a very strong actor, with the same relevance as
universities, companies and government, especially acknowledged at Tecnopuc and
Porto Digital. Collectives and Pacto Alegre confirm Nordberg’s (2015) connection
proposal, being a space for expression of a social group demands (Mulyaningsih,
2015). They are environment’s external and internal movements, helping connec-
tions with the outside. They assist STPs by providing a diversity of interactions,
bringing them closer to cities in a diffuse space (Audy & Piqué, 2016). They also
show society as a whole (Hasche et al., 2019). Collectives break patterns and tradi-
tional institutions and, in an advanced environment, can replace those institutions.
This statement reinforces the propositions of Carayannis and Campbell (2009),
Arnkil et al. (2010), Carayannis et al. (2017), and Schütz et al. (2019), that collab-
oration and cooperation among social actors should be seen as every actor’s duty
within an innovation system.
Collectives also stimulate cultural aspects, norms and values, which is associated
to the proposal by Carayannis and Campbell (2009), and Grundel and Dahlstrom
(2016). Cultural aspects can be perceived in Tecnopuc, in the collective that fosters
Creative Economy throughout the city, not only at the STP. The collective started as
an attempt to articulate movements related to creative economy, which were discon-
nected and had little relevance; it managed to bring together and improve the articu-
lation of the theme in the city, through the STP.
Collectives influence public policies, participate in the movement of city transfor-
mation, reinforcing the proposal for regional strengthening among the region’s enti-
ties, as reported by Kolehmainen et al. (2016), assisting in ecosystem co-creation
(McAdam et al., 2016).
We mention the attributes of Pacto Alegre, as a movement that also represents the
Quadruple Helix as Civil Society (Carayannis & Campbell, 2009). When we asked
Pacto Alegre leaders on its contributions to STPs, they said that it is more than a pro-
cess for attracting resources, projects, and funding lines; it provides a warm and pleas-
ant working environment, with quality of life, safety, access to culture, leisure, health,
education, and mobility. In addition, Pacto also allows people to notice that the more
active they are in the ecosystem, the more they generate wealth, providing more ben-
efits to the members, whether they are citizens, universities, companies, or government.
In other words, there is an enrichment of the actors’ arena (Hasche et al., 2019).
Pacto Alegre’s movement also strengthens the propositions of Audy and Piqué
(2016) and Parry (2018), that STPs no longer occupy a space in the city, but become
the city, living in constant connection with society, influencing cities’ planning and
supporting the strategies of development and local change. These attributes of Pacto
Alegre confirm the proposals of Carayannis and Campbell (2009) and Carayannis
et al. (2017), regarding a dynamic integration of innovation to foster competition

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 Journal of the Knowledge Economy

and economic growth. In addition, it is an initiative where actors have multiple and
bidirectional relationships, with the purpose of strengthening and co-creating local
ecosystems, as observed by McAdam et al. (2016) and Schütz et al. (2019).
Regarding The Quintuple Helix, managers describe it as a guiding value that
crosses all helices, which is close to the definition by Carayannis and Campbell
(2011) of an engine of new knowledge and innovations to respond to environmental
challenges. No managers interviewed consider the Quintuple Helix an actor; there-
fore, there is no representation, which agrees with Grundel and Dahlstrom (2016),
and Mineiro et al. (2018).
The 2030 Agenda is very strong in the world and makes institutions rethink their
social and environmental responsible action (UN, 2015). Hence, STPs’ managers men-
tioned several sustainability actions in their environments. These actions strengthen
STPs’ assignment for reducing the environmental impact caused by these real estate
developments (Laguna & Durán-Romero, 2017), in addition to fostering sustainable
culture and social values (Carayannis & Campbell, 2011; Machado et al., 2018).
An important contribution of this paper, on the Quintuple Helix, is encourag-
ing businesses as drivers of social and environmental impact. Tecnopuc and Porto

Table 5  Quadruple and Quadruple and Quintuple Helix Contributions to STPs

Quintuple Helix contributions
to STPs
Quadruple Helix (collectives or
communities, Pacto Alegre)
Quintuple Helix
Connection among actors and
integrates distinct institutions;
Fostering entrepreneurship and
innovation culture;
Partnerships for new businesses;
Attracting resources, projects,
financing and new companies
to the region;
Influence on public policies;
Being inclusive to beginners in
STP;
Renewing the oldest institutions;
Strengthening the sense of col-
lectivity and teamwork;
Provides a welcoming and pleas-
ant environment for people
to work, providing quality of
life, safety, access to culture,
leisure, health, education, and
mobility;
Being a cultural revolution, and a
platform for action
Sustainable actions are managed
by the SPTs;
Disseminated in all helixes;
Public policies for sustainability
are fostered by the actors of the
Quadruple Helix;
SPTs encourage the generation
of social and environmental
impact businesses to increase
benefits to society

13
Journal of the Knowledge Economy

Digital managers are identifying the process of new businesses creation, by develop-
ing business impact indicators. This action increases STPs’ influence in disseminat-
ing a sustainable strategic culture (Laguna & Durán-Romero, 2017).
Spreading a sustainable culture is also encouraged by collectives, which bring the
discussion of topics relevant to STPs. Fostering impact businesses is a topic brought
up by one of Porto Digital Collectives, reinforcing companies’ proposal as promot-
ers of the Quintuple Helix.
Finally, consolidated STPs that acknowledge Quadruple Helix and Quintuple
Helix are more aligned to a Strategic Planning that abandons a walled space and
increasingly connects them to the cities where they are located. Acknowledging
Quadruple and Quintuple Helices in innovation environments shows the evolution
and maturation of the analyzed STPs. Table 5 summarizes the contributions of the
Quadruple and Quintuple Helix to the analyzed SPTs.

Conclusion

The objective of this study was to identify if actors’ role in Quadruple and Quintuple
Helix in Brazilian consolidated Science and Technology Parks aligns with the pro-
posal presented by Carayannis and Campbell (2009) in their seminal paper.
The three STPs studied have different ways of defining the Quadruple Helix, but
converge in their reports on the Quintuple Helix. All of them can see society con-
cretely, either through associations, collectives or communities, or even through a
single identity, such as Pacto Alegre. Distinctions in representing society can result
from the maturity of environments, cultural aspects of localities, and their formation
history. On the other hand, Quintuple Helix is not seen as an actor, but is noticed in
sustainability actions and as a driver, represented by disseminating business impact
at Tecnopuc and Porto Digital.
The opinions of STP managers and QH representatives converge on ways of
strengthening the environments. QH actors connect institutions, support regulation,
mobilize the STP, and change the innovation culture.
The managers of Tecnopuc and Porto Digital also see the collectives as civil
society’s representatives. Collectives have a solid role in the mobilization of the
ecosystem, with challenges regarding their form of governance, renewal, and
engagement, which QH representatives confirmed. These groups, led by young
people, assumed roles very similar to those of the association, leading entrepre-
neurs to question bureaucratic structures and their value. At Porto Digital, the
associations got closer to the collectives, joining forces and preventing actors
from destroying themselves.
Carayannis and Campbell’s (2009) perception can be seen in the collec-
tives and in Pacto Alegre, present at Porto Digital and Tecnopuc. Collectives
are a representation of society, comprised by citizens in mutual support, which
strengthen each day and foster a cultural revolution supported by digital transfor-
mation. In addition, members of the collectives hold different positions in soci-
ety, which reinforces their representation, showing a more active society. Collec-
tives contribute to the ecosystem by bringing a new view to the processes, raising

13
 Journal of the Knowledge Economy

necessary topics for the ecosystem, besides contributing to a process of digital

change that society undergoes. Regarding Pacto Alegre, society is represented by
several entities from different spheres, which come together to contribute to the
process of transforming the city into a world reference for innovation.
This study clarifies QH representation, by identifying actors and ways of
strengthening STPs, through the different perceptions of STP managers and
helix representatives. In the Quintuple Helix, the study adds on the perception of
environmental sustainability as a basis and focuses on disseminating companies
through impact businesses. The role of QH can be drivers for other STPs, and
even for those that we studied. Finally, the paper shows an active society, with
voice to mobilize public policies and review how STPs operate. Thus, society
ceases to be a basis and becomes a strong actor for mobilization and connection.
In addition, the study explains that associations cannot represent the Quadruple
Helix, since they represent companies that are already part of the Triple Helix.
Limitations of the study include the lack of approach to new actors’ relationships,
how STPs are connected to society, characterization of these environments’ forma-
tion, and how companies see the new actors. To fill this gap, we suggest that future
studies seek to understand how the shape of environments can influence the defini-
tion of society’s representation, what are the primary relationships established by
the new helices, besides identifying other forms of sustainability perception.
Acknowledgements The authors thank UNIFEI (Federal University of Itajubá) and UFLA (Federal Uni-
versity of Lavras), without which this research would not have been developed.

Availability of Data and Material Data may be available for the reviewers.

Code Availability Not applicable.

Declarations
Ethics Approval Not applicable.

Consent to Participate All participants agreed to participate at the beginning of the interview.

Consent for Publication We agree with Publications Terms.

Conflict of Interest The authors declare no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andréa Aparecida da Costa Mineiro1 · Cleber Carvalho de Castro2 · Marcelo

Gonçalves do Amaral3
Cleber Carvalho de Castro
clebercastro@ufla.br
Marcelo Gonçalves do Amaral
marceloamaral@id.uff.br
1
Production Engineering and Business Department, Itajubá Federal University, Itajubá,
(Minas Gerais), Brazil
2
Agribusiness Management Department, Lavras Federal University (UFLA), Lavras,
(Minas Gerais), Brazil
3
Triple Helix Research Group ‑ Brazil / Graduate Program in Administation (PPGA), Fluminense
Federal University (UFF), Volta Redonda, (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil

13