Brainport Eindhoven: born from crisis - 25 years as a Triple Helix Governed Ecosystem

Various researchers have called for research into positive examples of successful TripleHelix-governed ecosystems. TripleHelix collaborations are seen as the solution to tackle the current ‘wicked problems’ of society. Researchers are encouraged to enhance our understanding of governing inter-organizational collaborations (ecosystems) in the context of university-industry-government (Triple Helix) relations. In this paper we therefore describe a case study of the Brainport Eindhoven ecosystem in the Netherlands which embodies a triple helix organization. We go on to show how the regional governmental structure (Brainport Foundation and Brainport Development), on the one hand, stabilizes at a strategic level and, on the other, gives flexibility at the tactical and operational level. This leads to the transfer of knowledge, and to innovation and change within the network. Keywords: Governance, Crisis, Intervention, Triple Helix, Quadruple Helix, Multiple Helix, Ecosystem, Network, Innovation and Change, Monitoring.