Effectiveness by Design: Overcoming Orientation and Transaction Related Barriers in Research-Industry Linkages

Abstract

Context: dynamic and productive linkages between research organizations (ROs) and industry are actively spurred in advanced nations. Conversely, Latin American countries face significant challenges in fostering research-industry interactions. Solid models of research-industry cooperation are of particular interest to emerging economies such as Brazil. Objective: this article aims at presenting a comprehensive study of the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Research and Innovation - Embrapii, an entity focused on addressing barriers to cooperation between research ROs and companies. Methods: data from 63 projects supported by Embrapii involving three ROs and 44 companies was collected employing four sources of primary data: two web questionnaires, interviews and technical visits. The scope of the study is based on Embrapii’s initial phase carried out during 2012-2016. Results: findings revealed that specificities of the model allow the emergence of conditions for effective research-industry cooperation. Conclusion: The Embrapii’s model contributed to overcoming both orientation-related and transaction-related barriers, resulting in positive outcomes. Expected technological results such as new products, processes, and methodologies, were achieved in the majority of projects.

Researcher management and cooperation: challenges in Brazilian research organizations from the perspective of microfoundations

“…Challenges and obstacles to research-industry cooperation have been broadly addressed in the literature, being well established that they arise from complexities inherent to R&D&I and the institutional and cultural differences of the stakeholders (Albats, Bogers & Podmetina, 2020;Salles-Filho et al, 2021), such as the limitations resulting from the administrative and managerial differences experienced (Salles-Filho et al, 2021;Silva & Sartori, 2022). However, studies on the operational dynamics of these cooperations, particularly the factors of microfoundations dimensions (i.e., individuals, procedures and structures) (Felin et al, 2012) that contribute to shaping the collective outcomes, are still scarce (Albats, Bogers & Podmetina, 2020;Adegbile, Sarpong & Kolade, 2021;Salles-Filho et al, 2021).…”

“…Although the research-industry relationship is a recurring theme in discussions and innovation policies in Brazil aimed at innovative productive development (Brito Cruz, 2019;Salles-Filho et al, 2021), market and institutional deficiencies are still considered obstacles to the establishment of a more effective cooperation (Fischer, Schaeffer & Phaiffer, 2018;Salles-Filho et al, 2021;Silva & Sartori, 2022). Some scholars (such as Oliveira and Bonacelli (2019), Ribeiro, Salles-Filho and Bin (2015), Ronsom and Amaral (2017)) argue that the institutional strengthening of Brazilian ROs through the improvement of routines and collective capacities in research, development and innovation (R&D&I) is a mechanism for changes in the above scenario.…”

“…In the Brazilian literature, although people development is listed among the variables sensitive to the context of action of ROs that require continuous management (Center for Management and Strategic Studies [CGEE], 2010; Salles-Filho & Bonacelli, 2010), there are few studies addressing this aspect. It is also worth considering the specific dynamics of ROs and the peculiarities of their managerial and cooperative processes, which differ depending on the geographic and cultural contexts in which they are inserted (Salles-Filho et al, 2021).…”