Oil sector and technological development: Effects of the mandatory research and development (R&D) investment clause on oil companies in Brazil

Abstract

The commodity boom at the turn of the millennium spawned growing interest in development strategies based on natural resources. The Brazilian government introduced a groundbreaking contractual clause to force oil companies to invest into research and development (R&D) 1% of gross revenues from large oilfields, with the aim of fostering technological development. To analyze the impacts of the R&D clause, we conducted 73 in-depth interviews with key informants from the oil sector. We also carried out a survey of 156 project coordinators. Our findings suggest that the R&D clause has strengthened the contribution to technological development by the national oil company, meanwhile involving new actors. The R&D clause has also boosted scientific research, technological capabilities, and innovation. However, it had a minor impact on fostering the relations between oil companies and service companies, and technology-based firms have played only a minor role.