Brazilian National System Of Innovation Research Articles

A reflection on the evolution of the Brazilian National Innovation System in twenty years

The current trend of internationalization in the market is a new world socio-economic situation in which technology and innovation are crucial elements for a country's economic development and expansion of its companies' systemic competitiveness. This view highlights the need to study the National Innovation System as a system composed of a set of interrelated actors working together in a specific set of relations, which give rise to all the performance and behavior of the system. In this line of thought, it is considered that the national systems are distinct by their different systems, structures, and guidelines of each economy. Developing countries, such as the Brazilian case, face challenges and opportunities in the face of new forms of market structure. This paper explores the reality of the Brazilian innovation system, based on a bibliographic review begun in the late 90's and updated recently. It is about making an exploration to identify its current state of development and to compare the reality of the 90s to identify if the referred system presented some satisfactory evolution during the studied period. Spending on science and technology has increased over the last twenty years, and 2014 reached about 1,27 of the country's Gross Domestic Product. This value is considered very low compared to spending on Research and Development in developed countries in Europe, North America, and Japan. Fundamentally, the Brazilian government acts to make society aware of creating an innovative mentality and adopt technological policies that support this objective more stably and continuously within the real possibilities of the country.

The financing of innovation policies in Brazil between 1999 and 2016: political economy, institutions and financial cycles

ABSTRACT The main objective of the present paper is to provide the reasons behind the rise and fall of resources for innovation policies in Brazil between 1999 and 2016. The paper also intends to provide a broad map of the financial relations between funding sources and financial agents in the Brazilian National System of Innovation (NSI). In order to do that, the paper uses mixed methods: a historical approach to cover the motivations of the political economy; principles of network analyses to map the institutional relations between funding sources and financial agents; and economic theory to understand the determinants of the cash flows that finance science, technology and innovation (STI) policies. The institutional arrangement of the Brazilian NSI led the financial cycle to rely, on a general level, on GDP dynamism; the strategy of selected public bodies; on the federal budget decision process; and on the external economic cycle. Between 2003 and 2014, political struggles led to economic policies that favoured GDP growth and public spending, while the opposite occurred from 2015 onwards. In general, institutions were not equipped to protect the financial resources from the political changes of the mid-2010s.

The Political Economy of Innovation Why is Brazil Stuck in the Technology Ladder? ,

The essay considers the role of big private businesses (BBs) within the Brazilian national system of innovation (NSI). Our question is as follows: How do the innovation practices and political behavior adopted by BBs shape the Brazilian NSI? It is our claim that although BBs play a prominent role in leading innovation nationally, they are not supportive of institution-intensive solutions for strengthening the NSI, and thereby contribute to the creation of a dynamic that we call the ‘low-innovation trap’. The obstacles to escaping this trap are manifold, but here we shall focus on 01. the lack of coordination between actors and instruments within government, 02. the high level of instability in the Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) budget, 03. the increasing obstacles faced by BBs wishing to innovate and 04. the lack of correspondence between government proposals and societal demands. Without a strong coalition pushing for it to be upgraded, it is likely that the NSI will remain unfit for purpose.

Building up a national network of applied R&D institutes in an emerging innovation system

Abstract Paper aims This paper aims at answering the research question “How to successfully build up and strategically manage a new network of applied R&D in Brazil?” Originality The paper is based on a unique experience of a strategic partnership, transferring the experiences of managing the largest network of applied research in Europe to the Brazilian National Innovation System (NIS). Research method The research described in this paper follows an action research approach, using a participative process of rapid prototyping, pilot tests and continuous revision and adaptation. Main findings The paper presents a comprehensive and consistent set of management models, procedures and tools for the planning, implementation and evaluation of applied R&D institutes. Implications for theory and practice The paper’s findings contribute to the empirical research on methodologies to manage knowledge-based networks and innovation actors at the interface between research and industry.

Industrial upgrade, economic catch-up and industrial policy in Brazil: general trends and the specific case of the mining industry

Abstract The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of industrial policy in promoting technological upgrading in Brazil. To do that, we focus on the main characteristics of the Brazilian national innovation system and the role of its institutions. We examine whether industrial policy implemented between 2003 and 2014 was able to promote changes in agents’ conventions towards more vigorous strategies linked to technological upgrading and catch-up. In addition, we analyze the Brazilian mining industry, a sector in which Brazil has developed relevant competitive advantages in international markets, and in which domestic agents have built important operational capabilities. Main results show the huge difficulties faced by industrial policy efforts in establishing mechanisms to drive technological catch-up, based on the unsuccessful experiences of policies in the years 2002 to 2014. The specific experience of the Brazilian mining industry confirms these general findings, since domestic mining companies were not able to create new technological capabilities, even during the commodity price boom period.

Transformative innovation policy for solar energy: particularities of a developing country

The study of transformative policies and how they can promote the spread of a technology connects interests among different actors such as government, industry, and academia, who seek solutions for the use of renewable energy, among them solar energy. This study investigates transformative innovation policy for the solar PV energy in Brazil from a sociotechnical perspective of innovation and suggests ways to better promote this technology in Brazil. This study was based on data from two different information sources: (1) in-depth interviews with actors in the Brazilian national innovation system; and (2) secondary data from energy sector in Brazil. With an analysis that is unprecedented for Brazil, the study presents a proposal for transformative innovation policies for the sociotechnical transition process of solar energy in Brazil. The results indicate the need for incentive policies to develop the Brazilian domestic solar panel industry across the whole value chain, as well as for the definition of policies to encourage technological innovation and the formation of cooperation networks among the actors of the system as key elements to promote and disseminate this technology in Brazil.

Research, development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies in Brazil

PurposeMost research and development (R&D) activities in Brazil are performed by science and technology institutions (STIs). The purpose of this research was to determine whether environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) developed by these organizations were transferred to companies, either through cooperation during research or through mechanisms such as licensing agreements or spin-offs.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 1,939 research groups and 702 patent registers, identified from the same set of words related to ESTs, using semantic search in open-access databases, covering a period from 2005 to 2014, were examined. The two data sets (patents and research groups) were overlaid, and it was possible to associate inventors’ names with researchers’ names.FindingsThe results showed that only six patents could be related to the 1,939 identified research groups. Of the six patents, only one was the object of a licensing agreement, and no spin-off was identified.Practical implicationsThis study evidenced that it is necessary to expand the mechanisms of knowledge transfer, directed not only from STIs to companies but also in the opposite direction, given that companies recognize potential market opportunities.Originality/valueThis study shows that improvements in the Brazilian National Innovation System are necessary, as ESTs research groups demonstrated a weak association with technologies transferred to companies, with only one case of technology transfer in the form of a licensing agreement.

Spatial distribution of the Brazilian national system of innovation: An analysis for the 2000s

Regional inequality is an intrinsic characteristic of economic underdevelopment. Some structuralists have attributed this feature to the unequal distribution of the benefits of technical progress among subnational regions. This process is thought to be related to the spatial distribution of the components of the national innovation system, which is such that the available opportunities for taking advantage of the benefits of technical progress differ from one region in Brazil to the next. This study examines the distribution of science, technology and innovation assets among different Brazilian microregions in the years from 2000 to 2010. Its findings indicate that the territorial scope of the national innovation system expanded during the period under study to encompass a larger number of microregions and thus has come to exhibit a greater degree of spatial continuity. This process occurred in parallel with a trend towards a greater regional deconcentration of income in the country.

PADRÕES DE RELACIONAMENTOS ENTRE GRUPOS DE PESQUISA E O SETOR PRODUTIVO DO BRASIL: UMA ANÁLISE MULTIVARIADA DOS TIPOS DE RELACIONAMENTO POR ÁREA DE CONHECIMENTO

O artigo tem como objetivo realizar uma análise da interação entre universidade e empresa no sistema nacional de inovação brasileiro pela ótica dos grupos de pesquisa, separado em áreas do conhecimento. Para tanto, são definidos indicadores a partir da técnica de componente principal com o objetivo de analisar as semelhanças e diferenças entre as áreas de conhecimento dos tipos de interação que cubram as particularidades do sistema nacional de inovação brasileiro. A análise realizada demonstra que os tipos de interação são muito diversos para os grupos de pesquisa do Brasil e variam de acordo com a área de conhecimento na qual eles estão inseridos. Os resultados demonstram que a interação no Brasil assume várias formas e é heterogênea nas diferentes ciências. Esse ponto serve para qualificar o sistema de ciência e tecnologia nacional perante suas particularidades, além de guiar políticas que gerem ciclos virtuosos.

Análises das redes de inovação resultantes dos financiamentos dos fundos setoriais de biotecnologia e energia

Objective – This paper assessed the formation of innovation networks by firms and institutions of science and technology (IST) so that they can receive financial resources from science and technology sector funds (SFs). SFs are the cornerstones of the Brazilian national system of innovation (NSI). As the funds were created slightly over a decade ago, it is high time they underwent revision. Design/methodology/approach – The research used data from projects offered by FINEP, RAIS and Economatica. Beyond the pursuit of basic patents Derwent Knowledge of Reuters. Descriptive analyzes were performed, network analysis through Gephi software and applied a multiple regression to the available indicators on the impacts generated by FS. The indicators used originate from different areas of knowledge and are analyzed in light of the theory of open innovation. Findings – In the preliminary stage of the program, funds were largely allocated to the science and technology sector, but firms had a low level of participation in the projects. In addition, patent applications are below expectations at that stage, given that one of the aims of SF is the incentive for technological development. Practical implications – Despite the improved transparency in the Brazilian economy, restrictions on information do not permit the application of statistical tests to measure the impacts of investments in innovation Originality/value – The innovation networks were assessed by social network analysis, which indicated that most nodes (actors) are occupied by more active ISTs, lowering any expectations for a higher level of participation by firms. Some suggestions are made for improving incentive programs for innovation and their management.

Pesquisas cooperativas entre universidades e institutos públicos no setor agropecuário brasileiro: um estudo na Embrapa

A presente pesquisa objetivou a caracterização das cooperações entre universidades e institutos de pesquisa (U-IP) no setor agropecuário. O referencial teórico aborda temas como tecnologia e inovação tecnológica, sistema nacional de inovação (SNI), cooperação interinstitucional para inovação tecnológica, transferência de tecnologia, além dos papéis de universidades e institutos de pesquisa dentro do SNI. Também aborda os temas de tipos de pesquisa e o contexto da pesquisa agropecuária brasileira. A revisão teórica foi fundamentada na cooperação entre universidades e empresas (U-E), dada a reduzida literatura a respeito da cooperação U-IP. A metodologia utilizada foi a de estudo de caso, de natureza exploratória e qualitativa, utilizando roteiros de entrevista semiestruturados, questionários semiestruturados, bem como análise documental. O caso estudado foi o da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa), onde foram coletados dados em três unidades de pesquisa, três universidades que cooperam com essas unidades e três unidades administrativas da Embrapa que apresentam contato com as universidades, totalizando nove entrevistas e questionários. Foi possível dessa forma identificar motivadores, tipos de ligações, barreiras, facilitadores e resultados percebidos nessas cooperações.

O Diretório dos Grupos de Pesquisa do CNPq e a Interação Universidade-Empresa no Brasil em 2004

O presente trabalho apresenta informações do Diretório dos Grupos de Pesquisa do CNPq que podem ser exploradas na investigação da interação universidade-empresa no Brasil. Para tal são utilizados como proxy os grupos de pesquisa cadastrados no CNPq que declararam algum relacionamento com o setor produtivo. As informações foram extraídas do Censo 2004 do Diretório dos Grupos de Pesquisa do CNPq. Os resultados mostram a maior freqüência das atividades de pesquisas científicas e de transferência de tecnologia que se caracterizam como trocas bidirecionais de conhecimento. Esse panorama pode estar apontando para avanços no desenvolvimento de uma linguagem comum entre os grupos de pesquisa e o setor produtivo. Esta investigação ilustra especificidades recentes do Sistema Nacional de Inovação do País, indicando que ainda há espaço para incentivos que fomentem a transferência do conhecimento acadêmico para as empresas.

Anos 90: uma década perdida para o sistema nacional de inovação brasileiro?

O artigo argumenta que a combinação de três fatores contribuiu para o fraco desempenho do sistema brasileiro de inovação nos anos 90, principalmente quando comparado com a de seus principais competidores no mercado globalizado: no domínio econômico, foram baixos os investimentos em áreas onde a incorporação de novos conhecimentos é essencial; no domínio tecnológico, cortes em áreas (educação, P&D, etc.) essenciais para inovações em tempos de economia do aprendizado; no domínio institucional, a adoção da não política industrial/tecnológica como política de desenvolvimento.

Domestic patents and developing countries: arguments for their study and data from Brazil (1980–1995)

This paper presents data from Brazilian Patent Office (Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial, INPI) and compares them with data from the United States Patent Office (USPTO). Developing countries have technological activities that are important locally but not significant at international level (imitation, local learning, adaptation of foreign innovations). These activities might be patentable only at national level. Therefore, the study of domestic patents of developing countries provides a broader picture than USPTO patents. This paper compares 8309 INPI patents with 475 USPTO patents (between 1980 and 1995). Domestic patent data show peculiarities in the Brazilian case, possibly shared with other countries in similar technological level: (a) high share of individual patents; (b) foreign-owned firms with important activities; (c) low firm involvement in R&D activities. Some characteristics are shared with developed countries: (a) domestic firms as the major patentees; (b) according to firm size, there is a U-shaped distribution of patents; (c) evidences of multi-technology large firms; (d) a relatively small share of firms have more than one patent in the whole period. The contrast between USPTO and national patenting statistics shows different rankings according to ownership structure, leading firms, industrial sectors, and international patent classification. These differences highlight sources of international competitiveness and point to weaknesses in Brazilian innovative activities. This paper concludes evaluating the contributions (and weaknesses) of this database for the evaluation of the Brazilian National System of Innovation.