1 Synergy in Knowledge Based Innovation Systems at National and Regional Levels The Triple Helix Model and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Different from national systems of innovation, a knowledge based economy is grounded in the volatility of discursive knowledge enabling us to specify expectations. Expectations can be improved by testing against observations. Furthermore, expectations can differently be codified; for example, in terms of market perspectives and technological opportunities. The Triple Helix of university industry government relations provides first a (neo )institutional model. However, three functions are recombined at the systems level in each instantiation: wealth generation (by industry) novelty production (academia) and legislation and regulation (government) The Triple Helix synergy indicator enables us to use the institutional arrangements as instantiations of the knowledge dynamics and thus to assess the generation of options and reduction of uncertainty in information theoretical terms. The Fourth Industrial Revolution entails the transition to the reflexive entertaining of expectations in terms of models as increasingly the sources of innovations.