Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem has evolved in the last decade. In this study we aim to understand how and why Silicon Valley evolves by identifying changes on the role played by the Triple Helix Agents. We also aim at identifying if changes in one of the agents trigger evolution of the others. Taking the startup as the unit of analysis and applying a multiple case-study approach, the results are analyzed on the bases of the Triple Helix Model and interpreted in the light of the periods of development of an entrepreneurial venture. Our findings suggest that the role of the Triple Helix agents evolves over time and therefore, so does an innovative ecosystem. Main changes refer to the (1) rise of accelerator programs as a new player in the ecosystem; (2) an early engagement of corporations with startups; (3) the geographical expansion of Silicon Valley, now including San Francisco; (4) an increasing commitment of universities with capital funds; and (5) the rise of micro-multinationals due to talent shortage and fierce competition in the area. 在过去十年中硅谷的创新生态体系不断发展。在这项研究中,我们旨在通过识别三螺旋机构所起作用的变化来了解硅谷如何以及为何发展。我们的目的还在于确认其中一个机构的变化是否会引发其他机构的进化。本文以创业公司为分析单位,运用多种案例的研究方法,在三螺旋模型的基础上对结果进行分析,并根据创业企业的发展阶段进行解释。我们的研究结果表明,三螺旋机构的作用随着时间的推移而发展,创新生态体系也是如此。主要变化在于:(1)加速器计划作为生态体系中的新参与者兴起; (2)大公司与高技术新创公司(Start-ups)的早期关联; (3)硅谷的地理扩张,现在已包括旧金山市; (4)大学越来越多地承诺为资本基金工作; (5)由于硅谷地区人才短缺和竞争激烈,微型跨国公司兴起。 L'écosystème de la Silicon Valley a évolué au cours de la dernière décennie. L'objectif de cet article est d'identifier les changements dans les rôles joués par les agents de la Triple Hélice afin de comprendre comment et pourquoi la Silicon Valley évolue; de même, l'étude cherche à savoir si les changements au niveau de l'un des agents entraînent l'évolution des autres. L'article prend la startup comme unité d'analyse et applique une approche d'étude de cas multiple. Les résultats sont analysés sur la base du modèle de la Triple Hélice et interprétés à la lumière des périodes de développement de l'entreprise. Ils suggèrent que le rôle des agents de la Triple Hélice évolue dans le temps, et qu'il en est de même pour l'écosystème d'innovation. Les changements importants sont en rapport à (1) la montée en puissance des accélérateurs de programmes comme un nouvel acteur de l'écosystème; (2) un engagement à temps des entreprises avec les start-ups, (3) l'expansion géographique de la Silicon Valley, incluant maintenant San Francisco; (4) un engagement croissant des universités avec des capitaux; et (5) la montée des micro-multinationales en raison de la pénurie de talents et de la forte concurrence dans la région. O ecossistema de inovação do Vale do Silício se desenvolveu na última década. Neste artigo nos propomos entender como e porque o Vale do Silício se desenvolve identificando mudanças no papel assumido pelos atores da Hélice-Tríplice. Nos propomos também a identificar se as mudanças em um dos atores desencadeia a evolução nos demais. Tomando as startups como unidades de análise e aplicando uma abordagem de múltiplos casos de estudo, os resultados são analisados nas bases no modelo de Hélice-Tríplice e interpretados à luz dos períodos de desenvolvimento de uma iniciativa empresarial com perfil inovador. Nossas descobertas sugerem que o papel dos agentes de Hélice-Tríplice evolui ao longo do tempo e, por consequência, evolui também em ecossistema inovativo. Mudanças centrais se referem a (1) ascensão de programas aceleradores como novos agentes no ecossistema; (2) um engajamento precoce de empresas com startups ; (3) a expansão geográfica do Vale do Silício, incluindo, agora, São Francisco; (4) um compromisso crescente de universidades com fundos de capital; e (5) ascensão de micro-multinacionais devido carência de talento e concorrência acirrada na área. Инновационная экосистема Силиконовой долины менялась в течение последнего десятилетия. В настоящем исследовании мы попытались понять, как и почему развивается Силиконовая долина, охарактеризовав смену ролей агентов Тройной спирали. Мы также поставили задачу определить, оказывают ли влияние изменения одного агента на развитие остальных участников. Проанализировав стартап как самостоятельный объект исследования путем рассмотрения нескольких практических примеров, нами были получены результаты в рамках Теории тройной спирали и интерпретированы в контексте периодичности развития предпринимательского проекта. Наши выводы указывают на то, что роль агентов Тройной спирали изменяется с течением времени, равно как и сама инновационная экосистема. Значительные изменения связаны с: 1) запуском программ акселлерации в качестве нового участника экосистемы; 2) сотрудничеством корпораций со стартапами на ранней стадии; 3) географической экспансией Силиконовой долины, которая теперь включает Сан-Франциско; 4) усиливающееся взаимодействие университетов с инвестиционными фондами; 5) рост микро-корпораций по причине недостатка кадров и жесткой конкуренции в регионе. El ecosistema de innovación de Silicon Valley ha evolucionado en la última década. El objectivo de este estudio es el de entender cómo evoluciona ese ecosistema debido a cambios en el papel desempeñado por los agentes de la Triple Hélice, y en particular, cómo los cambios en uno de esos agentes desencadena cambios en los otros. Tomando las start-ups como unidad de análisis y utilizando múltiples estudios de caso, los resultados se analizan en base al Modelo de Triple Hélice y se interpretan a la luz de las etapas de desarrollo de una empresa. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que el papel de los agentes de la Triple Hélice evoluciona con el tiempo y, por lo tanto, también lo hace el ecosistema innovador. Los principales cambios se refieren a: (1) el aumento de los programas de aceleradoras como un nuevo actor en el ecosistema; (2) un compromiso temprano de las grandes corporaciones con los nuevos emprendedores; (3) la expansión geográfica de Silicon Valley, que ahora incluye la ciudad de San Francisco; (4) un compromiso creciente de las universidades con las empresas de capital de riesgo; y (5) el aumento de las micro-multinacionales debido a la escasez de talento y a la feroz competencia en el área.

The first part of the twenty-first century has witnessed a rebirth of “the City” as an engine of innovation. This renaissance has been an organic response to technological and societal pressures, opportunities, and norms. This is a sharp reversal from the latter half of the twentieth century, which saw the decay and erosion of the City as a place of economic value creation. In spite of the best efforts of governments and city planners, suburbanization, first of residences, and then industry, led to a hollowing out than in some areas decimated urban life. What lessons can we learn from the emergent reversal of this trend? We explore in depth the examples of San Francisco, Austin (Texas), and London to discover lessons that may be broadly adopted.

Areas of innovation (AOIs) are on the agenda of urban planners in the revitalisation of inner cities. The knowledge-based economy provides the opportunity to base these revitalisation efforts in creating AOIs as an evolution of the old industrial districts. Grounded in key conceptual frameworks in this research field - triple helix model, knowledge-based urban development paradigm, clusters of innovation framework, co-evolutionary theory, learning region theory and lifecycle of a new venture - as a reference, this work contributes to the existing literature by proposing a comprehensive model for the evolution of AOIs from inception to maturity. Using a case research study approach, the 22@Barcelona case, an AOI that transformed an old industrial district into a knowledge-based one, allows to analyse its evolution and to elaborate a model. Academic value stems from a new theorising effort of the evolution of AOIs. Urban planners benefit by getting additional clues in the revitalisation of cities.

Goal: To foster innovative and creative thinking in the curricula of Engineering schools, as well as other technology-based courses, contributing to the innovation ecosystems’ growth and sustainability. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research was structured as an exploratory research and was conducted by means of a focus group comprised of representatives from Porto Alegre (RS) working directly with higher education and/or playing key roles within the city’s innovation ecosystem. The group’s discussion was analyzed along with current literature on the topic. Results: The paper provides insightful perceptions of the obstacles faced by faculty members when attempting to develop innovative methodologies within classes so that potential partnerships are fostered by agents of the innovation ecosystem in order to better prepare professionals that will later be inserted in this new innovative scenario. Limitations of the investigation: The present study is structured as an exploratory research based on a focus group discussion and analysis. Thus, as any qualitative approach, it might lack generalizability, once its purpose is to investigate a specific phenomenon and promote further investigation on the issue. However, all discussion from the focus group was analyzed and supported by extant literature on the topic, in order to mitigate such limitation and strengthen the research relevance. Practical implications: The analysis and discussion obtained from both the focus group and literature are imperative on the need of critical changes on universities’ organizational culture to support entrepreneurial activities, as well as fostering partnerships with key agents within innovation ecosystems to better prepare professionals to the new market setting. Originality/value: Although some studies investigate the relationship involving universities and Science and Technology Parks, few studies explore how engineering schools’ curricula can benefit from such alliances. Additionally, the present study lists a few hurdles faced by professors during the development of active-based practices, as well as alternative possibilities to overcome resistance in traditional courses.

Global challenges demand more competitiveness from cities, calling for quick adaptation to changes brought about by the current knowledge economy. Innovation Districts (ID) stand out as the most favourable ecosystems to create economic, urban, social and governance solutions proactively and at the speed demanded by this rapid renewal of knowledge. Effective assessment is important in these areas to ensure efforts are guided to achieve the objectives set. Following validation by a panel of 17 experts through an international Fuzzy Delphi survey, and 15 experts in the DEMATEL multi-criteria decision-making approach, this study builds a conceptual framework in four dimensions (Urban, Economic, Social and Governance), with a set of 37 indicators identified as relevant to assess performance in ID and the power of influences among them. The resulting multidimensional innovation assessment framework is a powerful tool, being useful in determining the key impact indicators of existing innovation districts.