This book discusses the main issues, challenges, opportunities, and
trends involving the interactions between academia, industry, government and society.
Specifically, it aims to explore how these interactions enhance the ways in
which companies deliver products and services in order to achieve sustainable
competitiveness in the marketplace.

Sustainable competitiveness has been widely discussed by academics and
practitioners, considering the importance of protecting the environment while
sustaining the economic goals of organizations. The Quintuple Helix innovation model
is a framework for facilitating knowledge, innovation and sustainable
competitive advantage. It embeds the Triple and the Quadruple Helix models by
adding a fifth helix, the “natural environment.” The Triple Helix model focuses
on the university-industry-government triad, while the Quadruple adds civil
society (the media- and culture-driven public) as a fourth helix. 

The Quintuple Helix modelfacilitates research, public policy, and
practical application of sustainable competitiveness principles. Applying the
most recent developments and theoretical insights of this model, the
contributors to this volume address such questions as: how do government,
academia, industry and civil society actors interact for promoting sustainable
competitiveness at the country (regional) level? How do these actors influence
sustainable operations management at the company (business) level? In so doing,
they shed new light on the dynamics of economic growth, sustainability and
competitiveness.