Transforming Heritage into Innovation Spaces: Exploration of Heritage Helix Ecosystems

Abstract

Heritage has increasingly emerged as a pivotal medium for driving and adapting to change, and as an integral component of innovation ecosystems. In the ongoing participatory turn in governance, the management of collective heritage resources reflects a broader paradigm shift aimed at fostering sustainable socio-technical transformations. Far from being static relics of the past, heritage assets function as dynamic agents of innovation, thus influencing various dimensions of contemporary life. This research sheds light on heritage as a vibrant force for transformation and adjustment, showcasing its ability to position itself as a crucial component that both enables and guides broader processes of innovation. It emphasises how heritage sites, characterised by their transitional nature and ‘ex’ and ‘post’ identities, have become arenas for creative regeneration and socio-cultural, technical, territorial, and knowledge-based innovation. By utilising helical models and Schumpeter’s theory of creative destruction, this article underscores the transformative power of heritage to address global disruptions through heritage-driven innovations, drawing on three heritage and creative destruction categorizations. This highlights how heritage actively shapes innovative knowledge spaces while fostering urban and social regeneration, positioning it as a vital tool for rebuilding and reimagining sustainable futures. By exploring diverse local heritage transformation initiatives across different regions, this research unveils three heritage helix models that showcase the dynamic process of change management through heritage. These models offer a framework for guiding future heritage projects, fostering innovative knowledge spaces and inspiring sustainable transformations.