Fluxo de conhecimento entre Universidade e Empresa : uma análise de empresas instaladas no TECNOPUC

Abstract

The innovation is related with the conception and application of the knowledge, encouraging an interaction between University and companies. Accordingly, the knowledge flow between educational and research institutions and business sectors is determined by the stimulus of the actor responsible for proposing the transference of the knowledge flow – either the University, based on scientific knowledge, or the company, based on applied knowledge. Recent studies debate about the role of the actors and channels of knowledge transference, however, they do not argue about the content of the transferred knowledge, or debate about the types of knowledge but do not discuss about the actors and channels of knowledge transference. Therewith, the present study has the objective to analyze the knowledge flow in joint projects between Universities and companies located at a technological park – propitious environment for this type of interaction. The concept of knowledge flow is mainly presented by Triple Helix, in addition to other models. The flow between University-Companies describes the role of the actors and channels of knowledge transference, verifying also the content of the transferred knowledge: basic research, strategic research, applied research or the current technology. It was also studied the technological maturity level, the TRL (Technology Readness Level), for a further analysis of the studied cases and their technological levels. Seven semi-structured Interviews were conducted with University professors (researchers) responsible for the joint projects and afterwards, interviews were conducted with R&D (research and development) managers of the companies installed at TECNOPUC. The study case method was used in these interviews by studying seven joint projects. The results of this study demonstrate that the benefit of having the technological park near to the University has favored this interaction and has encouraged the communication between the actors. However, it is observed that, mainly, are the companies, in the figure of their managers, who stimulate the knowledge flow, either by their own demand to develop new technologies, or to resolve problems encountered in their R&D processes. It was also analyzed and understood that companies have internal R&D, and they do not always interact with the University to seek for partnerships. Furthermore, researchers (University professors) have many projects together with firms outside the technological park. The government has encouraged the interaction between the actors. This stimulus is perceived by development scholarships, or by Informatics Law, which provides substantial benefits to the companies who seek for it.