As major contributors to research, higher education institutions have to tackle scientific questions that arise in connection with the transition of societies around the world towards more sustainable development. But universities are also significant societal actors – they shape their local, regional and national environments and are therefore important drivers for a sustainable future. A new way of cooperation and networking between higher education and regional actors is required in order to take up society-driven challenges for a cooperative solution-finding process. This paper aims at reflecting and analysing the diverse roles of higher education institutions in networking with regional actors. Three cases of networking and capacity building between higher education and regional actors, which were developed in the framework of the European Union project 3-LENSUS (Lifelong Learning Network for Sustainable Development), will be assessed in this paper: the COPERNICUS Alliance, the Database on Learning for Sustainable Development and the Seminar Series for Sustainable Development. The examples are methodologically reflected on the basis of the Graz Model for Integrative Development, as this model not only reflects the actions but in particular the processes behind the cases.