Title: On the role of university in the promotion of innovation: exploratory evidences from a university-industry cooperation experience in Brazil

Authors: Alex da Silva Alves; Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas; Maria Helena Teixeira Da Silva; Valdir de Jesus Lameira

Addresses: College of Agriculture 'Luiz de Queiroz', University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Av. Pádua Dias, 11. 13418-900 – Piracicaba, SP, Brazil ' Laboratory of Technology and Management, Fluminense Federal University (LATEC/UFF), Caixa Postal 100175, 24001-970, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ' Department of Engineering, Fluminense Federal University (UFF/Rio das Ostras), Rua Recife S/N. Jardim Bela Vista, Rio das Ostras (RJ) 28890-000, Brazil ' The Institute of Systems Engineering and Computers, University of Coimbra (INESC Coimbra), Rua Antero de Quental, No. 199, 3000 – 033 Coimbra, Portugal

Abstract: This paper addresses firms' efforts to innovate through collaborative R&D carried with research universities in Brazil. In Brazil, the resources of federal and state agencies, along with the universities' infrastructure, act as a link to enhance this endeavour. This study examines university-industry interaction in pursuit of innovation using a bibliographical review and a case study involving two state universities and four companies in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The paper suggests that new policies are required to promote a level of university-industry cooperation in Brazil in which universities can better capture the positive economic externalities arising out of cooperation.

Keywords: innovation; university-industry cooperation; learning; industrial collaboration; universities; university research; R&D financing; Brazil; collaborative R&D; research and development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2015.066061

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2015 Vol.17 No.1, pp.1 - 18

Published online: 21 Jan 2015 *

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