Governing sustainable urban brownfield redevelopment in China: Applying the Quintuple Helix model in Chengdu

This study examines sustainable urban brownfield redevelopment through the Quintuple Helix Model, encompassing universities, government, industry, civil society, and the environment. A structured survey of 436 respondents across five districts in Chengdu, China, was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicate that universities (β = 0.320), government (β = 0.291), and industry (β = 0.308) exert the strongest direct influences on redevelopment outcomes, while civil society (β = 0.089) and environmental factors (β = 0.108) provide smaller but significant contributions. The model also shows high predictive relevance, confirming its robustness in explaining sustainable redevelopment. These findings highlight the central roles of universities, government, and industry as primary drivers of sustainable redevelopment, while civil society and environmental factors act as supportive contributors. The study contributes empirical evidence from China to enrich the Quintuple Helix literature and offers actionable recommendations for planners and policymakers, including strengthening governance platforms, fostering university–industry collaboration, and aligning industrial incentives with ecological goals.