The seminar was organized by Prof. José Manoel Carvalho de Mello, Adviser for Innovation Policies to the rector of Fluminense Federal University; Researcher from the Nuclei of Studies in Knowledge, Innovation and Work, Fluminense Federal University. The seminar took place on the 6th November 2007, in the School of Engineering , Fluminense Federal University Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (more…)

The recent evolution of the Biotech local innovation system of Minas Gerais: university local firms and transnational corporations

1. The Evolution of the Biotech Innovation System of Minas Gerais
During the last decade, the Brazilian private biotechnology sector has quickly expanded. In 1993, there were 76 biotechnology firms in Brazil; by 2001, their number had increased to 354. Approximately 70% are local private firms, 25% are multinational and 5% are state-owned firms. Of their combined products, 26% are for the health care market and the rest are for agricultural, environmental and industrial fields.

Health biotech evolved in Brazil through a combination of high scientific capacity and policies geared towards fostering spin-off firms from university research. One of the most interesting experiences happened in the Southeast State of Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais State, has played an active role in building up biotech capability in Brazil. By 2000 the city hosted thirty-five biotech firms located in both its urban metropolitan area and smaller regional cities of Minas Gerais, as shown in Table 1. (more…)

The Brazilian UniDev team organized a national workshop in Rio De Janeiro on 15-16 May 2006. Over 30 Brazilian researchers and other stakeholders from various parts of Brazil were invited to the workshop. Most of the participants are stakeholders in the ongoing discourse on the changing role of Brazilian universities. Many are involved in research on different aspects of the university, such as its linkages to industry and its developmental role. Funding agencies such as FINEP also took part in the workshop. There were also representatives of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and Government representatives.

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Brazil Position Paper presented at UNIVERSIDAD06
Brazil Power Point presented at UNIVERSIDAD06

University and National System of Innovation: A comparative study Brazil – Cuba, is a two-year project (January 2006 – December 2007) that has been approved by a joint commission formed by MES (Minister of Higher Education of Cuba) and CAPES (federal Brazilian agency for supporting post graduate programs, Minister of Education of Brazil).

Main objective
The main objective of this project is to contribute for a deeper understanding of the evolving third role of the academic institutions in their national contexts.

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The Brazilian team decided to postpone the first National Workshop, which was first schedule for September this year. Instead the Workshop willl be held early 2006. The idea is to have a two-days seminar, where the basic lines of the Brazilian project will be presented and discussed with leading Brazilian researchers as well as with Brazilian authorities from CNPq, CAPES, FINEP, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology.