University-Civil Society (U-CS) research relationships: The importance of a ‘fourth helix’ alongside the ‘triple helix’ of University-Industry-Government (U-I-G) relations1

Abstract

This paper revolves around ‘grounded theory’, based on empirical work undertaken by the author since 2000 involving case studies of a set of applicationoriented research centres/units at Western Cape universities. Most of these research groupings were involved in what are termed triple helix research relations linking university-industry-government (U-I-G). The first part of the paper relates this grounded theory to ideas of Henry Etkowitz and colleagues, about the new third mission (of socio-economic development) of universities undergoing what they term a ‘2nd academic revolution’. But it is argued that absent from the latter ideas are important additional concepts of ‘use-inspired basic research's and a (new post-1970s) ‘third industrial capitalist revolution’. The second part relates this set of analytical concepts including the ‘additions’, to the theoretical framework of ideas and questions being developed by the author in a new research project: this focuses on what he terms the ‘fourth helix’ of university-civil society (U-CS) research relations, with new case studies to investigate these CS linkages. The latter currently have an ‘orphan’ status alongside the dominant triple helix relations — but questions are raised about how a scholarship of engagement of university researchers with CS can be enhanced in South Africa and internationally.