Drivers and challenges of RIS3-related university engagement: Insights from five European regions

Universities have long been considered key players in regional innovation systems and innovation-driven regional development. In addition, as part of the quadruple helix, they can play a major role in RIS3 design and implementation by acting as civic universities. This contribution differs depending on external and internal factors as well as their interaction. This paper aims to shed light on the main challenges and drivers experienced by five universities whilst taking part in an Erasmus+ project. Adopting a reflexive narrative approach, it investigates to what extent and how they acted as Civic Universities and what they could learn from this quadruple helix interaction. The results show that, even in their diversity, all universities perceived themselves to have acted as CUs in the context of the project.