The collaboration between several economic and societal sectors is crucial for sustainable socio-economic development, as it fosters the creation and circulation of new knowledge. This study analyzes the main characteristics of collaborations between higher education institutions (HEIs) and several sectors such as industry, commerce, services, government, and NGOs. It adopts systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis methods to explore the dynamics of collaborations. A rigorous SLR process was conducted using the SCOPUS and Web of Science (WoS) databases, employing strict protocols with detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria, which resulted in a powerful dataset for analysis. To better understand the primary drivers of interaction and collaboration between HEIs and sectors, this research employs theoretical frameworks such as Open Innovation Theory (OIT), Triple Helix Model (THM), and Knowledge Spillover Theory (KST). Preliminary results reveal the industry sector as the most active in collaborating with HEIs, followed by sectors like telecommunications, transportation, renewables and digitalization. Among the theories, THM is most frequently used to examine collaborations. Bibliometric results highlight European countries—especially Nordic and Central Europe—and East Asian clusters as the most engaged in HEI collaborations. The study identifies key collaboration drivers, providing insights for policymakers and stakeholders interested in fostering innovation through cross-sector collaboration involving HEIs. It also discusses limitations and suggests areas for future research.

Keywords: Collaboration, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Systematic Literature Review (SLR), Triple Helix Model (THM), Innovation, Industry.