TRIPLE HELIX AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES, INDUSTRY, AND GOVERNMENT IN CREATIVE SECTOR OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Creative industries, in current economic dynamics, are considered as a new mechanism for boosting economic growth around the world, which is based on an individual’s creativity, talent, and innovation. Whereas this sector has a defining impact on the socio-economic development of a country through the collaborative interactions of important spheres of society mainly university, industry, and government, known as the Triple Helix Model. In the context of Pakistan, this study aims to analyze the implementation of the Triple Helix Model to promote creative industries and to attain sustainable economic growth and development. By employing a qualitative research design, a total of 34 in-depth interviews are conducted with academicians, practitioners, and government officials for data collection. The results show that creative industries have the potential to accelerate the economic growth of Pakistan, though it is facing religious, political, social, and institutional hurdles which are halting its efficacy. Moreover, the Triple Helix model can be an effective module for the enhancement of both creative industries and economic growth. But policy interventions are needed for its implementation in the creative domains for strengthening its effectiveness. Whereas, the results also suggest that the implication of Tripe Helix is feasible as a viable model in Pakistan but with the contextual change, where the important sector would be the government instead of academia, therefore the government has to play a facilitating yet a driving role in this collaborative mechanism.