The Silent Run: New Issues and Outcomes for University-Industry Relations in Brazil

Abstract

In order to develop innovations, companies are establishing University-Industry (U-I) relations which are explained in theories like the Triple Helix. Maybe this traditional view it is not enough to describe what happens in Brazil. Followed by a growth of articles published internationally, companies in technologically stable industries seem to be incorporating high-tech outcomes from universities, boosting sectors that once were apparently inert. This research will propose a different approach on U-I relations, focusing on the Knowledge Flow. Results show that agriculture companies are increasing their relations as much as engineering companies. Such relations are mainly based on raw technologies or applied solutions. Start-up firms' relations are mainly based on informal contacts and patents are not used to protect technologies. The Silent Run shows that companies which appear to be technologically stable are now upgrading trough U-I, and patents does not seem to be the first option when protecting new technologies.