This paper explores how universities orchestrate academic-industry co-creation within mission-oriented regional innovation ecosystems. The empirical case analyses the Greater Manchester Electrochemical Hydrogen Cluster (GMEHC) through a structured collaboration between Centre for Enterprise, Manchester Metropolitan University,
Bosch and regional SMEs designed to advance hydrogen innovation and supply chain development. The paper draws on qualitative case study and policy analysis to identify three structural gaps; innovation capacity, translation and coordination gaps that constrain regional participation in low carbon transitions. The findings demonstrate that universities act as multi-modal orchestrators deploying tri-domain legitimacy, multi-competence capabilities, and relational infrastructure to enable what the paper describes as “multi-stakeholder mission-aligned co-creation”. This form of value co-creation differs from conventional models through asymmetric but collectively reinforcing value propositions, intermediated interaction, mission coordination logic and ecosystem catalytic temporality. The research contributes to the understanding of university orchestration while offering practical lessons for designing regional innovation policy in net zero transitions.