From regional innovation systems to global innovation hubs: Evidence of a Quadruple Helix from an emerging economy

Abstract

Despite the growing importance of regional innovation systems as agglomerations of firms and actors that possess technical, leadership and managerial endowments for innovation and R&D activities, their impact on the evolution of global innovation hubs is still unclear. We address this gap by investigating the multiple influences of macro-, meso- and micro-level factors in the formation of global innovation hubs, using a comparative qualitative case study design with four MNEs operating in the Indian IT, pharma and healthcare sectors. We confirm the presence of ‘Communities of Practice’ as a fourth strand in our conceptualization of a Quadruple Helix in the emerging markets context. We also discover the critical role played by the interactions among communities of practice members and meso-level investments in organizational capabilities, learning and relationship quality. Finally, we highlight the importance of managing trust and power dynamics among members of communities of practice in a global innovation hub.