The model of Regional Development based on Innovation. The case of Alexander Innovation Zone S.A.

ABSTRACT: This paper, provides the role of innovation to the regional development. The most importantfactors and stakeholders for the success of regional development are presented, such as industries, SME‟s andlarge companies, which do business in a specific region, local educational organizations, universities, institutesand research centers, which can provide the ordered scientific knowledge for the businesses to scale up and theGovernment, especially the local Authorities, which can support and boost the efforts of the other stakeholdersto grow up. The collaboration of all these stakeholders based on the “Triple Helix model”, which is analyzed onthe second part of this paper.In the third part of this paper is presented and described the Alexander Innovation Zone S.A., which isestablished in Thessaloniki, in Northern Greece, by providing its definition, scope, vision and actions.Finally, some suggestions are presented for the Innovation zones in generally and for the regional development.

Keywords: regional development; triple helix; innovation; development; stakeholders; government; educationalorganizations