Climate change emerges as the central challenge for the future of sustainable development.
The Quintuple Helix is a strategy to address the climate crisis, integrating ecology,
knowledge, and innovation, and generating synergies between economy, society, and
democracy. In this context, transitioning to more sustainable energy sources is imperative, and
green hydrogen (H2V) emerges as a promising alternative. Its impact on the energy trade is
significant, potentially causing future shifts in energy power centers. Regions like the Middle
East, known for their oil production, may face new competitors. Countries with abundant
natural resources, such as Brazil, have the potential to lead H2V production, impacting the
global economy and politics. An initiative in this regard is the implementation of an H2V hub
in the state of Ceará. Thus, this study aims to investigate how the implementation of the Ceará
H2V Hub can enhance Brazil's competitiveness in the global energy transition, from the
perspective of the Quintuple Helix Model. Using a qualitative, theoretical-empirical approach,
interviews were conducted with representatives from the five helices: academia, government,
industry, society, and the environment. The data were analyzed through discursive textual
analysis, using the IRaMuTeQ software. The main results revealed a predominance of the
Triple Helix model in the context of the formation of the Ceará H2V Hub, highlighting
challenges in adopting the Quintuple Helix. The lack of societal engagement and limited
consideration of environmental aspects are obstacles to achieving the mentioned model.
Brazil faces a mixed scenario of progress and challenges in preparing for the energy
transition, focusing on H2V. Although there is growing awareness of environmental
sustainability and investments in human capital, especially in Ceará, infrastructure and
innovation represent barriers to this market. Furthermore, there are obstacles in the
sustainability of the financial sector, such as the lack of long-term financing for H2V projects.
Finally, despite the abundance of natural resources, technological dependence may
compromise Brazil's competitiveness, even with the implementation of the Hub, underscoring
the need for investments in research, development, and innovation to strengthen national
technologies and reduce dependence on foreign technologies.