The study aims to explore existing university-industry-government (U-I-G) linkages in Peshawar, Pakistan and study the factors that determine these linkages. Furthermore, the research examines the extent to which university-industry-government collaboration can address regional industrial problems and promote economic growth. Hence, the quest is to seek a viable economic model that not only enhances innovation in the region but also improves industrial competitiveness. Therefore, Etzkowitz’s Triple Helix model, based on academia-industry-government collaboration, provides the intellectual context for this research. The study uses semi-structured interviews and a narrative approach; with descriptive and analytical approaches to investigate the nature of university-industry and government linkages in Peshawar. A single case study approach is employed, where Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) at Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar (IMSciences) was selected for research purpose. This is because the centre had already initiated U-I-G linkages to some extent in Peshawar. Research findings suggest that university-industry-government linkages are too weak. The Triple Helix model, which is considered a suitable conceptual framework for regional development (Etzkowitz and Ranga, 2010) needs structural changes to make it work in a developing region like Peshawar (Dzisah and Etzkowitz, 2008). The original spiral model of innovation worked well in the developed world because that industry hosts multi-nationals that can afford industry-academia joint ventures. Their governments not only facilitated interactive networks but also designed such policies’ frameworks that supported high growth firms (HGFs) (Mason and Brown, 2013). Whereas Peshawar is not only a traditional and developing economy but also a war and crisis-ridden region, due to which it cannot attract multi-nationals headquarters. The findings of the research can be treated as an asset that can easily be reused by other developing region for knowledge transfer and economic development.
A Quest for Viable Economic Model for Peshawar Pakistan- Using Etzkowitz Conceptual Framework of Triple Helix Model