The role of NPOs and international actors in the national innovation system: A network-based approach

This paper conducts an explorative analysis of the UK's nanotechnology research collaboration network to understand the contributions of the different institutions in the development and generation of knowledge. Framed in the National Innovation System (NIS) and the Triple Helix (TH) model literature, this paper makes use of social network analysis (SNA) tools to identify the role and involvement of different institutional actors in the interactions and collaborations within the nanotechnology network. Building on the traditional university–industry–government three-helix interaction model, our paper includes two extra dimensions in the model to account for the increase in international collaboration and the increasingly important role of non-profit organizations (NPOs) in knowledge generation. In this way, our paper responds to recent calls to adapt the traditional NIS models to reflect the new realities of scientific collaboration.