Blue economy and the quadruple helix model: the case of Qingdao

Blue Economy (BE), as a novel approach fostering the sustainability of oceans and coastal areas for economic growth, is considered an enabler for sustainable and inclusive development. The paper contributes to the emerging literature on the development of a participative BE by presenting an innovative Quadruple Helix model, which not only connects domestic government, academia, firms and users but acts as a driver boosting the foreign exposure of the country in this specific domain. The model is tested in Qingdao, an exemplary city included in the Blue Economic Zone of the Shandong Province in China, through an exploratory approach based on desk research integrated with semi-structured interviews with eight experts. The findings suggest that Qingdao is built on a Triple Helix where the government holds a leading role in defining the domestic and international activities of academia and businesses, as in the case of the Blue Silicon Valley and the Qingdao West Coast New Area. Contrary, structures and practices fostering the involvement of civil society were not retrieved, even if projects to develop a sustainable Quadruple Helix model are expected by exploiting international collaboration. Furthermore, the findings show that to promote international partnerships in BE it is imperative to define a common and shared language at the global level.