IX Regional Helix'25: Book of Extended Abstracts

On behalf of the Organising Committee, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the IX International Regional Helix’25 Congress, held from 26th to 28th June at the School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), and organised by the Applied Management Research Unit (UNIAG). The event demonstrated the essential role of collaboration among the four key actors of the Quadruple Helix model - academia, industry, government, and civil society - as a driver of sustainable regional development. We were especially pleased to count on the participation of members from the STARS EU consortium and the Thematic Interest Group (TIG) on Entrepreneurship & Innovation, whose contributions to the organising and scientific committees, as well as to the scientific programme, reflected a strong commitment to cooperation and innovation. A particularly memorable moment of the congress was the round table "Transforming Regions through Innovation, Sustainability and Collaboration", which fostered critical dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of collaborative innovation and the role of the Quadruple Helix in regional transformation. We thank all speakers for their valuable contributions and for enriching this important session with meaningful perspectives. The programme also included a Doctoral Forum, offering PhD students a valuable platform to present their research and receive feedback from experienced academics. This initiative supported scientific quality, intergenerational exchange, and the visibility of emerging researchers in an international context. A total of 62 papers were submitted, representing over 150 authors and addressing a wide range of themes, including management, digital transformation, tourism, cultural heritage, entrepreneurship, regional economics, sustainability, and green transitions. Eleven of these papers were recognised during the closing session for their scientific excellence. The quality and impact of the congress are a direct result of the outstanding work presented and the depth of discussion led by all participants, researchers, keynote speakers, and moderators. With participants from Albania, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal, the congress reinforced its international dimension and its role as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and regionally focused innovation. We are grateful to the Presidency of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, the Management Board of the School of Technology and Management, the Vice-Presidency for Communication, and the IPB Image Services and IT Technical Services for their support, as well as to the Foundation for Science and Technology, UNIAG, and all sponsoring organisations, both public and private, for making this event possible. A special thank you goes to the Scientific Committee and the Steering Committee, whose valuable guidance and support were instrumental to the success of Regional Helix'25. Last but not least, heartfelt thanks to the Organising Committee and its dedicated team for their commitment, professionalism, and enthusiasm throughout what was both a challenging and rewarding mission. As this chapter closes, we reaffirm our belief in the relevance and future potential of the Regional Helix initiative. We hope it continues to inspire reflection, foster meaningful debate, and open new paths for cooperation, knowledge transfer, and shared development.

Keywords

Management Innovation Sustainability Digital transformation Collaboration Entrepreneurship Regional economy Tourism Cultural heritage

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10198/34704

Citation

Fernandes, Paula Odete; Duarte, António; Vaz, Roberto, Scalabrini, Elaine C.B.; Lopes, Isabel Maria; Ferreira, Jessica; Leite, Joaquim; Alves, Jorge; Moutinho, Nuno; Cardim, Sofia; Ferreira, João José de Matos; Farinha, Luís; Ranga, Marina (Eds.) (2025). IX Regional Helix'25: Book of Extended Abstracts. Bragança: Instituto Politécnico de Bragança. ISBN 978-972-745-355-9