Trust and collaboration in doctoral training: the case of Portuguese science and technology parks

Purpose This study examines how different forms of trust shape possible configurations of collaboration between universities, doctoral programmes and Science and Technology Parks (STPs) in Portugal. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the DocPark project (2022–2024), the study combines 25 semi-structured interviews with a World Café workshop. Interviews supported the analytical construction of three collaboration models between doctoral education (DE) and STPs, which were then discussed in the workshop in terms of feasibility, constraints and enabling conditions. A trust typology informed the interpretation. Findings The study develops three analytically distinct models: an informal model; a collaborative research and co-creation model; and an integrated DE and business innovation model. Workshop discussions suggest that they differ in organisational form and the trust conditions required for implementation and sustainability. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to Portugal, and the workshop material is based on researchers’ notes and visual records rather than verbatim transcripts; however, the models offer analytically transferable insights. Practical implications This study offers a framework for designing more sustainable collaboration between DE and innovation environments through trust-sensitive governance and institutional design. Originality/value The study contributes to DE research by linking trust theory to the analytical construction and discussion of collaboration models between DE and STPs, an underexplored area in innovation ecosystems and university–industry collaboration research.