The challenge of innovation in Brazil

Clarisse Faria-Fortecoƫf

Only 23% of Brazilian researchers work in a company.

An effective relationship between university and business worlds is far from being a reality in Brazil, while for example, the University of São Paulo (USP) and the University of Campinas state (Unicamp) train more PhDs than the major North American universities.

That was what Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, Scientific Director of the FAPESP (The State of São Paulo Research Foundation) has observed in his study "Policies of innovation and public-private partnerships, which it is necessary to make" presented at the seminar "The challenge of innovation in Brazil" held in São Paulo in November 2007.

It is a real paradox. While Brazil has the capacity to produce a highly competitive knowledge at a worldwide level, its industry does not take advantage of this scientific potentiel.

Despite the technological innovation law of 2004, a 2006 budget of 81.8 million euros and some initiatives that indicate a change in mentalities, the Brazilian potential in the innovation field remains to mobilize.
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Information is available in French or in Portuguese.