Electrification and Sustainable Innovation: Cultivating Synergy and Trust in a Quintuple Helix Cluster Arena
This thesis addresses an ethnographic action research, focusing on the transition to the electrification process of equipment within the context of an innovative cluster initiative. The goal was to examine the transformation of the organizational structure of the HudksvallHydraulic Cluster (HHK) in Sweden, moving from a triple helix model of innovation to a more comprehensive quintuple helix framework. A central aspect in this transition was the establishment of an 'Arena' - that is, a collaborative platform enabling a holistic approach to sustainable transformation, integrating perspectives from the industry, local and regional government, academia, a state-owned research institute, and civil society. The study emphasizes the crucial role of trust in promoting collaboration within the triple helix model and investigates the dynamics of extending this trust to the broader quintuple helix context, laying the groundwork for the transition to electrified and sustainable equipment. As a result, the research provided insights into the complexities of multi-sector collaboration and the strategic importance of trust in driving sustainable innovation, contributing to a proposal for addressing climate change.