The quadruple helix model of innovation

Description

The identity of the emerging next industrial revolution is clarified by means of a quadruple helix model. It is revealed how the fourth industrial revolution (FIR), also referred to as Industry 4.0, is underpinned by much more than cyber-physical systems, the internet of things, digitisation, and automatic identification technologies such as chips, sensors, and internet protocols. The emotional hype surrounding the FIR and the uncertainty around its identity need clarification. The purpose was to provide balancing perspectives for understanding the primary movements, management theories, and sub-revolutions underpinning the emerging FIR. The rationale of the study is to bring more clarity in a collective model of multiple complex innovation concepts. A sequential exploratory qualitative multi method was followed to obtain (A) practical case narrative data and (B) theoretical narrative data. The primary movements underpinning the FIR are (1) triple management theory (TMT), (2) upscaling agility, (3) university-business cooperation (UBC), triple helix (TH) eco-system partnerships, and (4) epochal society.