The Helix Model System as a Challenge and Driver for Rural and Regional Development

Abstract

The purpose of this research study is to examine theoretical findings and, based on them, to identify the problems in implementing the Quintuple Helix approach for rural and regional development in Latvia. The research was based on the theoretical concepts of the helix model and the data gained from a survey of all Latvia’s local governments and rural community representatives, and the experience of Latvia University of Agriculture in using the Quintuple Helix approach for rural and regional development. The main conclusions are that cooperation among institutions of various natures, which is the basic idea of the helix model, leads to positive results; it gives an impulse to increasing economic activities in many rural municipalities of Latvia; the experience of the Technology and Knowledge Transfer Center (TEPEK) of Latvia University of Agriculture shows that there are good practices and successful outcomes from implementing the Quintuple Helix approach. Keywords: the Quintuple Helix Model; regional development; innovation; local governments; higher education institutions