The “G” in the Triple Helix: Government as an Entrepreneur

A growing body of evidence has recently emerged suggesting a shifting government role in science, technology and innovation policy, from a passive investor to a pro-active entrepreneur that initiates and supports wide-ranging and targeted interventions with a multiplier effect in the economy This paper provides new insights into the dynamics of this shift by presenting the experience of the Flemish government in consolidating the innovation potential of Flanders, in general, and enhancing University-Industry (U-I) links and the development of the entrepreneurial university, in particular. The impact of these policies is exemplified by the evolution of entrepreneurial activities at the Flemish Catholic University of Leuven (K.U.Leuven), the largest Belgian university and one of the most successful entrepreneurial universities in Europe and internationally. The Flemish experience suggests that for a successful outcome, top-down government entrepreneurial policies and programmes need to be combined with effective bottom-up organizational and management initiatives adopted by the university and local and regional structures (business firms, local and regional authorities, etc), and also need to be closely connected to the economic setup of the region/country.