The contribution of universities and research institutes to Brazilian innovation system

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate interactions among universities, research institutes and firms in the innovation system. The study is based on a primary survey of 1005 research group leaders from universities and research institutes who declared that they interact with firms. Three issues from the questionnaire were explored: the types of interactions, the channels of information and the outcomes of the interactions. A logit model was estimated to analyse the interactive behaviour. The study observed that R&D (research and development), short-term collaborative projects and consulting, which constitute the types of interaction, and publications, that constitute the channels of information, have important influence on the new research projects, which are results of the interactions.

Keywords:

• universities
• research institutes
• firms
• interactions
• research groups
• Brazil

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. They called developmental university the one that can contribute to development while safeguarding a certain degree of autonomy and does not operate according to the logic of profit-making.

2. The Likert scale, used as an answer to these questions, is (1) Without importance, (2) Little important, (3) Moderately important and (4) Very important.

These answers were transformed into 0 (for those who answered (1) Without importance or (2) Little important) and 1 (for those who answered (3) Moderately important or (4) Very important).

3. This interpretation is based on http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/mult_pkg/faq/general/citingats.htm (accessed 23 December 2014).