Re-reading sustainability through the triple helix model in the frame of a systems perspective

The concept of sustainability has acquired an ever more central role in governing processes, both of institutions and business organizations. Adopting a sustainability perspective, in fact, implies evaluating the different alternatives that arise from the representation of the specific constraints and rules that have to be followed in the different contexts that are taken into account: the economic, social and environmental contexts. Although since the beginning of the development of the theory of sustainability, about fifty years ago, there have been several attempts to consider the interrelation of environmental aspects with economic and socio-cultural ones, the definition of strategies and practices rarely adopted a holistic and comprehensive approach; neither did they consider the possible effects that can derive from such an approach. Based on these considerations, this chapter proposes adopting a systems approach to sustainability, in terms of involving the analysis of the synergy effects arising from the simultaneous consideration of the issues that come from each of the three areas that define sustainability. For this reason, the focus is on the interaction between what have been defined as the three dimensions of sustainability – economic, social and environmental – represented in their intersection on the basis of Elkington’s Triple Bottom Line model – people, planet, profit – whose dynamic interaction seems to still escape a clear and shared interpretation (Elkington, 1997). Our interpretative proposal, in this regard, proposes an integration of Etzkowitz et al.’s Triple Helix Model (1997) with the Triple Bottom Line original framework. Originally developed in literature with a strong focus on innovation processes, and with the goal of supporting the so-called ‘Third Mission’ of the University, the Triple Helix model seems a good reference point from which to interpret the dynamic of interaction at the basis of the Triple Bottom Line model. Starting from the rationale underlying the framework, which presents important sharing points with the view adopted herein, we identify the elements that can help in understanding and interpreting the evolutionary dynamics deriving from the interactions between the three areas of sustainability.