Knowledge Base for Innovations in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Toward Smart and Sustainable Future: A Study on EUDRES

An ecosystem where innovation is the goal becomes an important proponent to promote a smart and sustainable future (SSF). In doing so, it is imperative to provide an enabling environment where innovative ideas leverage existing issues by combining various resources—intellectual, physical, human, and financial—for innovation to be applied in real life. In this regard, higher education institutions (HEIs) are considered as a driver for regional innovation, as they provide enabling environment for idea generation, foster creation of new knowledge and expertise, and, in order to teach students, are in contact with the industry that has a vital role in the development SSF. Studies in the past examined the need for promoting innovation in the HEIs to create SSF. However, research about small cities and regions is scarce. With this background, Engaged, European, entrepreneurial university as driver for smart and sustainable regions (E3UDRES2 or EUDRES) is a European universities alliance located in the small cities and regions, working together on research, teaching, and innovation for creating the SSF. In this regard, the study aims to understand how the HEI in regions provides the enabling environment for innovation to create SSF, using the case of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia. Further, the study throws light on knowledge base and resources on best practices related to innovation for the SSF. The study is conducted by applying multiple research methods such as content analysis, the Delphi method, and a case study, and data mainly includes policy documents, written records and reports, and expert opinion. The outcome of this descriptive and exploratory study provides significant information on the implications of innovation at HEIs for SSF.