Gratitude & Memories & Awards
Acknowledgement and Gratitude
On behalf of the Organising Committee, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who contributed, directly or indirectly, to the success of the IX International Regional Helix’25 Congress, held from 26th to 28th June at the School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), and organised by the Applied Management Research Unit (UNIAG).
The congress emphasised the vital importance of collaboration among the key actors of the Quadruple Helix model - university, industry, government, and civil society - as a foundation for sustainable regional development. We were pleased to welcome the active involvement of members from the STARS EU consortium and the Thematic Interest Group on Entrepreneurship & Innovation, who played significant roles in the organising and scientific committees and participated as authors of scientific contributions, demonstrating a strong commitment to academic cooperation and regional innovation.
A key moment of the event was the round table discussion titled "Transforming Regions through Innovation, Sustainability and Collaboration", which stimulated critical reflection on the challenges and opportunities of collaborative innovation and the role of Quadruple Helix actors in regional transformation. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the intervenients for their valuable contributions, perspectives, and engaging dialogue, which greatly enriched this important moment of the congress.
The programme also featured a Doctoral Forum, providing PhD students with the opportunity to present their research and receive constructive feedback from senior academics. This initiative sought to promote scientific excellence, foster intergenerational dialogue, and increase the visibility of early-career researchers in an international academic setting.
A total of 62 scientific papers were submitted, involving more than 150 authors and covering a wide range of topics, including management and innovation, digitalisation, tourism and cultural heritage, cooperation networks, entrepreneurship, regional economics, sustainability, and the green transition.
With participants from Albania, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal, the congress reaffirmed its international scope and further established itself as a reference platform for knowledge exchange, network-building, and territorially driven innovation.
During the closing session, awards were presented to recognise the most outstanding research contributions submitted to the congress.
We are deeply grateful to everyone whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment helped make this congress both possible and memorable.
Paula Odete (General Chair) UNIAG, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
Photos
https://ipbnews.ipb.pt/fotos/index.php?/category/1244Video
Awards
Best Paper Award Certificate
Session: Doctoral Symposium
Paper: The University as an Ecosystem: Exploring Relationships with Environment and Stakeholders
Authors: Paula Marchant-Pérez, João Ferreira, & David Urbano
Session: Collaboration and Networks
Paper: Defining Industrial Tourism in the Cross-Border Region of Portugal and Spain
Authors: Elaine Scalabrini, Francisco Alves, Reginaldo Neto, Felipe L. Teixeira, Joaquín Garcia, Miguel Velasco, João Paulo Teixeira, Roberto Ivo Vaz, & Paula Odete Fernandes
Session: Digital Transformation
Paper: Does Virtual Reality Tourism Have a Future? An Application of the PPM Framework
Author: Sonia San-Martín
Session: Innovation
Paper: What’s Behind China’s Technological Paths? A Study on Green Patents in Nuclear Energy
Authors: Frederico Donadon, Geciane Porto, & Alexandre Dias
Session: Management
Paper: The Impact of Corporate Governance on the Debt: The Hospitality Industry
Authors: Barbara Pereira, Jorge Alves, & Nuno Moutinho
Session: Regional Economy
Paper: Motivations to Interact with Industry and Academic Engagement
Authors: Alexandre Dias, Camilly Ferreira, & Flávia Vicentin
Session: Sustainability
Paper: Enhancing Renewable Energy Utilization Through Residential Peer-to-Peer Trading
Authors: Paulo Borges, Maria Varanda Pereira, & Ângela Ferreira
Session: Tourism and Cultural Heritage
Paper: Within the Walls: An Augmented Reality and Serious Game to Engage Generation Z in Historical Sites Visits
Authors: Roberto Vaz, Márcia Vaz, Paula Odete Fernandes, & Hélder Gonçalves
Honourable Mention Award Certificate
Session: Digital Transformation
Paper: Big Data Analysis in Cost Management: Opportunities and Challenges in a Regional SME
Authors: Joaquim Leite, Cecília Carmo, & Virgínia Guedes
Session: Entrepreneurship and Regional Economy
Paper: AI-Driven Sustainable Alliances for Regional Innovation: Strategic Governance and Digital Transition
Authors: Diederich Bakker & Daniela Naydenova
Session: Tourism and Cultural Heritage
Paper: Growing Younger through Travel: Senior Tourism Strategies for Well-Being in Ageing and Low-Density Territories
Authors: Jessica Ferreira, António B. Fernandes, & Sofia Cardim