The Role of Universities and Startups in Regional Innovation Ecosystems: An Integrative Review for Sustainable Development

This study intends to examine the roles of universities, startups, and strategic partnerships in regional innovation ecosystems focused on sustainable development, aiming to comprehend how these collaborations promote social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. The research, of a bibliographic nature and with a qualitative approach, adopted the method of integrative literature review. The investigation was conducted in the Web of Science database and complemented by searches in Scopus and Dimensions, utilizing terms associated with innovation ecosystems, regional development, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, in order to broaden coverage and reduce database-related bias. The preliminary search yielded 229,289 records, and subsequent application of open access filters, review articles, and the timeframe from 2020 to 2025 resulted in 6,433 outcomes. From these, the 1,000 most pertinent records were transferred to Zotero, and, via convenience sampling, 24 articles were chosen for comprehensive study. The results were organized into six thematic categories that structure the discussion on the phenomenon: the role of universities, startups and sustainable entrepreneurship, intersectoral partnerships, public policies and territorial governance, sustainability and social inclusion, and regional dynamics and economic development. The analysis reveals that the interaction between academia, government, the productive sector, and society constitutes the basis for resilient innovative ecosystems, capable of articulating technology, public policies, and social values. It is concluded that the consolidation of these ecosystems requires collaborative governance and mission-oriented policies, being fundamental to promote sustainable innovation and reduce regional inequalities.