The intensity of private funding and the results of university? Firm interactions: the case of Brazil

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the academic side of university–firm linkages, reporting the results of research (called the “BR Survey”, a primary database) conducted in Brazil with leaders of research groups that interacted with firms. The authors analysed the answers from 662 research groups (from both universities and research institutes) to investigate whether the intensity of private funds affects the results of the interactions. The main intent is to answer the following question: Is there a difference between funding sources and the type of results achieved by research groups when interacting with firms? Design/methodology/approach To verify the impact of some variables on the perception of the main results of university–firm interactions, highlighting the impact of funding sources, the authors present a Logit Model defined with binary dependent variables. The null value is categorized as a “scientific result” (new scientific discoveries and research projects; publications, theses and dissertations; human resources’ and students’ education) and the value 1 is classified as an “innovative/technological result” (new products, artefacts and processes; improvement of industrial products and processes; patents, software, design and spin-off firms). Findings The authors found that the modes of interaction (relationship types) and some knowledge transfer channels, besides the number of interactions with firms, have statistically significant coefficients, so their values present different impacts on the results of the interaction. The results suggest that the Brazilian innovation policy towards a more active and entrepreneurial role of universities is fostering innovative/technological results from university–firm interactions. Originality/value The originality of the study lies on the results found that given the fact that private funding sources do not affect the conventional mission of Brazilian universities – teaching and research – university research groups should be even more incentivized to search for private funds to carry out their research. This may be a solution to the public fund scarcity and may help in reducing the historical distance between universities and firms in Brazil.

A framework for technology transfer success factors: validation for the Graphene4Life project

“…Finally, it is useful to use a mix of formal and informal channels of information dissemination and interaction, knowing that well-organized information can stimulate private interest and increase investment, linking technology suppliers with potential buyers can help overcome the information barrier, networking among stakeholders is essential for an effective TT and most effective TTs focus on products and techniques with multiple benefits. These factors were previously validated in the literature (Siegel et al, 2004;Rapini et al, 2019).…”

University–society collaboration in developing countries: Preliminary evidences from Brazil

“…In Brazil, the availability of data makes it possible to carry out studies with ample empirical evidence of patterns of universities-industry interactions with different perspectives: national (Rapini et al 2019;Suzigan et al 2009 (Oliveira et al 2018), regionalized sectoral (Tatsch, Ruffoni, and Botellho 2016;Ruffoni and Rosa 2018), higher education institutions (Closs et al 2012;Reynolds and Negri 2019), fields of knowledge (Britto et al 2012;Garcia et al 2014;Caliari and Chiarini 2018) and cases of companies (Gielfi et al 2017;Dias et al 2018). Studies in this area often point to the scarcity of interactions between universities and companies as an element that influences the low dynamism of the NIS in Brazil.…”

“…The previous diagnosis in Brazil persists despite decades of public policies to support this type of interaction (Rapini et al 2019), assuming a paradoxical tone and generating apparent perplexity in the regulatory debate. The few successful cases, on the other hand, usually end up being associated with the formation of "islands" of interaction, the causes of which are associated with historical determinants, long-term policies and with patient processes of capability building (Suzigan and Albuquerque 2011).…”

“…The few successful cases, on the other hand, usually end up being associated with the formation of "islands" of interaction, the causes of which are associated with historical determinants, long-term policies and with patient processes of capability building (Suzigan and Albuquerque 2011). There are studies that show that interactions with companies are less complex and focus on the routine production of the company (such as testing and assistance in quality control) (Suzigan and Albuquerque 2011; A C Fernandes et al 2010); however, since 2003 innovative firms have cooperated relatively more with universities and research institutes (Rapini et al 2019).…”

“…The Innovation Law (Lei da Inovação) provided legal support and set incentives for the commercialization of the results of scientific and technological research (Rapini et al 2019…”