D3.2. Protocol 1: Quadruple Helix Cultural Innovation. EPIC-WE Quadruple Helix Cultural Ecosystems and Cultural Hubs (Final protocol)
Creators: name: Nørgård, Rikke Toft
name: Holflod, Kim
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Quadruple Helix Cultural Ecosystems
Cultural Hubs
EPIC-WE

description: This report presents the foundational principles, along with practical sector, glocal, and local dimensions, of the EPIC-WE Quadruple Helix (QH) Cultural Innovation Ecosystem and QH Cultural Hubs.

By summarising the theoretical frameworks of the Triple Helix (TH), Quadruple Helix Ecosystem, and Living Lab model introduced in D3.1, Protocol 1: Quadruple Helix Cultural Innovation (2024), the D3.2, Protocol 1 transforms these concepts into EPIC-WE researched foundational requirements and principles for the macro-level design of the QH Cultural Innovation Ecosystem and QH Cultural Hubs that serve as implemented, tested, and evaluated models for partners to engage in cross-sector co-creation of research and innovation in culture and cultural heritage, practised through transformative partnerships and meeting(s) in the middle.

A critical aspect of the development of the QH Cultural Innovation Ecosystem and QH Cultural Hubs is the joint and iterative materialisation of shared models, principles, and practices. With the present D3.2, Protocol 1(2025) here, the EPIC-WE project makes significant strides in developing and refining the Quadruple Helix Cultural Innovation Ecosystem and QH Cultural Hubs initially presented in D3.1, Protocol 1 (2024) and through the project’s first round of Design-Based Research interventions. The principles and models presented here define and describe how to connect diverse sectors, partners, and participants in co-creating innovation and research across European cultural heritage sites. The concept of 'meeting in the middle' is central to forming such ‘epic we’ transformative partnerships in cultural research and innovation.

Importantly, D3.2, ‘Protocol 1 on Quadruple Helix Cultural Innovation: EPIC-WE Quadruple Helix Cultural Ecosystems and QH Cultural Hubs (final report)’ combines the foundational principles for the development, implementation, and operationalisation of the Quadruple Helix Cultural Innovation Ecosystem (9 principles) and Cultural Hubs (6 principles) to its core contribution: the EPIC-WE model for QH Cultural Hubs and its 2 x 4 requirements (see below). Taken together, these constitute the macro-level contribution of the EPIC-WE project. As a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action, the content of this report has been evaluated, iterated, and reinforced by the knowledge and experiences produced during the project. This includes the EPIC-WE Prisma2020 Systematic Literature Review, the review and research included in the D3.1 Protocol 1, the project’s Research Protocol and research results, its 12 Design-Based Research interventions, capacity building with experts and advisory board members, the project’s research publications and presentations along with its cross-sector cross-hub activities carried out within and across the EPIC-WE Work Packages to ensure its innovations are properly and thoroughly grounded in both research and practice.

Looking towards the future, extending D3.1, Protocol 1 with D3.2, Protocol 1 will lead to further conceptualisations, implementations, explorations, and evaluations of the QH Cultural Innovation Ecosystem and QH Cultural Hubs in the remaining project period (2025-2026). 

Overall, the EPIC-WE project outcomes of the QH Cultural Innovation Ecosystem and QH Cultural Hubs offer a significant contribution to the field of cultural innovation in cross-sector partnerships. The project's emphasis on cultural co-creation, cross-sector collaboration, transformative partnerships, meeting in the middle, open knowledge sharing, and empowered participation results in a robust model for cross-sector cultural research and innovation presented in this report.

Below are listed the 9 foundational principles for Quadruple Helix Cultural Innovation Ecosystems and the 6 foundational principles for Cultural Hubs that together result in the model and its 2 x 4 requirements for QH Cultural Hubs. These principles, models, and requirements are – along with important sector, glocal, and local dimensions, presented in the different sections of this report.