The collaboration between several economic and societal sectors is crucial for sustainable socio-economic development, as it fosters the creation and circulation of new knowledge. This study analyzes the main characteristics of collaborations between higher education institutions (HEIs) and several sectors such as industry, commerce, services, government, and NGOs. It adopts systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis methods to explore the dynamics of collaborations. A rigorous SLR process was conducted using the SCOPUS and Web of Science (WoS) databases, employing strict protocols with detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria, which resulted in a powerful dataset for analysis. To better understand the key drivers of interaction and collaboration between HEIs and several sectors, this research applies theoretical frameworks such as Open Innovation Theory (OIT), the Triple Helix Model (THM), and Knowledge Spillover Theory (KST) to guide database classification. Preliminary results reveal the industry sector as the most active in collaborating with HEIs, followed by sub-sectors like digital and renewables sources. Among the theories, THM is most frequently used to examine collaborations. The study identifies key collaboration drivers, providing insights for policymakers and stakeholders interested in fostering innovation through cross-sector collaboration involving HEIs. It also discusses limitations and suggests areas for future research.

This work has been supported by the Horizon Europe project INITIATE (ID:101136775).

Collaboration,Innovation,Industry Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),Systematic Literature Review (SLR),Triple Helix Model (THM),Open Innovation Theory (OIT),Knowledge Spillover Theory (KST)

• Economics and Business - Social Sciences

This publication is an output of the following project(s):

• Supporting European Research and Innovation Through stakeholder collaboration and institutional reform