The triple helix in action in the fitness sector: A case study of Chi & Co

Abstract

Glasgow, like many cosmopolitan cities, is in search of new ways to promote economic activity. Today's local government schemes are expected to fulfill an entrepreneurial role in the economic development of our cities and towns. However, to succeed in such an endeavor requires a formula that marshals collaborative effort into goal achievement. An example of such a multidisciplinary project can be found in the case of Chi & Co, a Glasgow-based yoga studio and instructor school and which is presented in this paper. The source and nature of enterprise supporting initiatives vary in intent, requirement, resources available and are often transient in availability. These limitations require that there be a strategic fit between the company need, academic expertise and drive as well as an enterprise agent, what we have labelled a formula for success. Meanwhile, success in commercialising fitness-related activities is the primary focus here, towards the goal of continued regeneration with an underlying socioeconomic agenda. Government support initiatives vary considerably, with the Princess Scottish Youth Business Trust awarding its innovation award in 2010 to a new start-up company selling golf experiences in Scotland, heralding the start of a focus on supporting innovations in sport and exercise as a commercial product. In addition, over the last three years, The Sporting Chance Initiative has helped more than 500 small businesses and innovators in Scotland to develop new products and services for sports markets, which include growth areas in fitness, leisure, adventure tourism and health/wellness by leveraging the expertise in our Higher Education Institutes, but this has not

Golf and Health, More than 18 Holes—A Bibliometric Analysis

“…Since 2008, particularly between 2011 and 2015, another emerging line of research has been the analysis of various ways of promoting participation in sports due to its contribution to health [ 147 , 148 , 181 , 182 ]. Three of these articles were in the two databases [ 147 , 148 , 182 ].…”

The Development of University Technology and Innovation Incubators to Respond to the Needs of the Modern Economy

“…Technology and innovation are important for economic development and therefore add to university activities whose benefits extend beyond a company. A study by Thomson, Kilgore, and Lionnàin (2015) showed that innovation is important and is a process that requires both internal and external stakeholder input, thereby making incubation for technology a source of knowledge. University involvement in the development of technology entrepreneurship smooths the way for an open innovation process by bringing to it a wealth of knowledge.…”

“…University involvement in the development of technology entrepreneurship smooths the way for an open innovation process by bringing to it a wealth of knowledge. Open innovation has purposive inflows and outflows of knowledge to accelerate internal innovation and expand markets for external use (Thomson et al 2015). It was stated earlier that a university is a key driver of innovation; knowing its role as an academic institution, it manages and creates inflows and outflows of knowledge.…”

“…Partnerships and collaborations help in acquiring information that is foreign and important for the development of technology. As a result of growing complexity in the innovation process, Thomson et al (2015) further discovered that such complexity has led to companies and firms searching for new knowledge outside of their organisations.…”