Louis André Leydesdorff (1948–2023)
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing away of Professor Loet Leydesdorff on 11 March 2023, an esteemed scholar and a pioneer in innovation studies. Loet’s death has left an irreplaceable void in the hearts of his family members, friends, colleagues, and the entire innovation studies community.
Loet was a brilliant scholar whose contributions to innovation studies were immense. He was best known for his ground-breaking work on the Triple Helix model of innovation, which he co-created with Henry Etzkowitz in the mid-1990s. His work on the model’s conceptual development and empirical measurement was instrumental in advancing our understanding of the complex relationships between university, industry, and government in innovation systems worldwide. Loet was also widely recognised for his research on science and technology indicators (based on the Triple Helix approach), focusing on bibliometrics and network analysis. He was considered one of the most influential scholars in scientometrics. His pioneering insights have influenced a generation of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners and will continue to do so for many years.
Loet was also a beloved mentor and teacher, inspiring countless individuals in innovation studies. He passionately advocated for interdisciplinary collaboration and believed that sharing knowledge and expertise was the key to unlocking discoveries and driving progress. He was a generous collaborator and valued colleague whose kindness, humour, and humanity endeared him to all who knew him.
As editors of the Triple Helix journal which had the privilege to receive his strong support since its inception, we will honour Loet’s memory and recognise his invaluable contributions in an upcoming article. He was a tireless champion of the journal and provided valuable insights and guidance to help us shape it into a fast-growing journal in innovation studies.
As a community, we are deeply saddened by the loss of Loet, but his contributions to innovation studies will endure. His legacy will inspire and influence future generations of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, and his passion for collaboration and innovation will continue to shape the field.
Rest in peace, Loet. You will be deeply missed!
The Triple Helix journal Editorial Team