RESUMO A Hélice Tríplice tornou-se um modelo reconhecido internacionalmente, que está no âmago da disciplina emergente de estudos de inovação, e um guia de políticas e práticas nos âmbitos local, regional, nacional e multinacional. As interações universidade-indústria-governo, que formam uma “hélice tríplice” de inovação e empreendedorismo, são a chave para o crescimento econômico e o desenvolvimento social baseados no conhecimento. O artigo apresenta a origem do modelo, seu conceito, dinâmica, fontes e rotas alternativas.

ABSTRACT The Triple Helix has developed into an internationally recognized model that is at the heart of the emerging discipline of innovation studies, and a guide to policy and practice at the local, regional, national and multinational levels. University-industry-government interactions, forming a “triple helix” for innovation and entrepreneurship, are the key to knowledge-based economic growth and social development. The article discusses the model’s origin, concept, dynamics, sources, and alternate routes.

Long confined to the realm of feminist studies, issues pertaining to women’s access, participation, advancement and reward are rising to prominence in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship -areas traditionally characterised either by gender-blindness or male dominance. The implications of this shift are wide-ranging but the mechanisms by which it takes place are little known. We discuss causes of the relatively small numbers of women scientists, researchers, innovators or entrepreneurs, the exceedingly slow pace of transition from inequality to equality and the usually lower hierarchical positions than men’s in academia or business, women’s hidden roles in technological change and an exemplary instance of women’s leading role in a major technological innovation with wide social impact, in the context of major changes arising in the transition from the Industrial to the Knowledge Society.