Title: University and small biotechnology firms linkage: the evidence from Brazil

Authors: Regina M.A.A. Galhardi

Addresses: International Labour Office, Employment and Training Department, Employment and Labour Market Policies Branch, 4, route des Morillons, 1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland

Abstract: This paper investigates how the small biotechnology firms (SBFs) in Brazil had managed to access biotechnology knowledge and whether or not they contributed to narrowing the gap between the academic and production sectors. It discusses the frequency of links between the SBFs and research establishments and the purpose of them. An analysis of the role played by university research in firms| development is pursued by analysing the kind of activities being developed inside or outside the firms. The nature of the linkage, and its advantages and disadvantages for the individual firms is also examined. This study challenges literature on Third World countries that has emphasised the frequent alienation of the science base in these countries from the requirements of domestic production. By contrast, this paper suggests that this view is no longer accurate.

Keywords: small biotechnology firms (SBFs); biotechnology; linkage; contract research and collaborative research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2000.000147

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2000 Vol.2 No.4, pp.374-390

Published online: 13 Jul 2003 *

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