Green Innovation Ecosystem Governance in Higher Education: Lessons from Wageningen University & Research and Implications for Vietnam

This paper analyzes the governance model of a green innovation ecosystem at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) to elucidate how a research university can restructure its role in the era of sustainable development. Drawing on a qualitative case study approach and content analysis of strategic documents, sustainability reports, and academic literature, the study examines WUR through three pillars: mission orientation, organizational design, and data-driven operational mechanisms. The findings indicate that: (i) sustainable development is institutionalized as a long-term strategic mission, with the SDGs integrated into performance indicators and reporting systems; (ii) the chair group model creates a flexible, interdisciplinary structure that links research, education, and societal engagement; and (iii) digital transformation, together with Wageningen Campus, establishes an open innovation platform that fosters university–industry–government collaboration. Based on these findings, the paper proposes the concept of “green innovation ecosystem governance” as an integrated institutional capacity. Drawing from the WUR case, the study discusses implications for Vietnam in the context of implementing Resolutions 57 and 71, emphasizing the need to transition toward mission-oriented universities, enhanced autonomy coupled with accountability, and data- driven governance.