The Role STPs in the Framework of New Economic and Political Context; Evolution and Challenges. The case of Spanish STPs

urrent regional and national innovation systems are complex networks that exceed the traditional conception of the triple helix. Besides, the new territorial development models such as the smart specialization approach have redefined the traditional innovation systems governance where the SPTs develop their activities as intermediate agents for business competitiveness. In this new context the STPs must themselves find their role in these new and complex systems, rethinking their relationships and linkages with agents already integrated into these quadruple/quintuple helixes, but also with new ones so that not only they contribute to innovation and business competitiveness, but also indirectly on the more ambitious smart specialization strategic approach. All these factors make the reflection on the role of STPs in Spain timely and necessary. As an answer, APTE, as the leading association of STPs in Spain, has defined its strategy for the next six years.