Analysis of the technology transfer follow-up in Brazil

The present report discusses the transfer of technology of Brazilian research and development projects, analyses relevant success or failure conditions and proposes a set of indicators and follow-up criteria. In order to support the development of this study, a selected group of projects regarding a technology transfer process was analyzed. The cases examined here have happened in the eighties, reflecting the discussions on this theme in the seventies. An ample reorganization process in the seventies reformed the Brazilian Research and Development Institutes, according to the model followed by the American Contract Research Institutes. Criteria and practices that favored the link with the market have been debated in that time. The conclusion was that a conventional project follow-up has been adopted, concentrating attention on time schedule and costs, showing little or no concern with the effectiveness of the transfer of technology. In the eighties it was recognized that such methodology was not effective in the transfer of technology, which led to the model of promotion of transfer of technology through intervening organizations. In this period the CNPq (National Council for the Promotion of Research and Development) begin the program of implementation of the Innovation Technology Nucleus, which was the source of the majority of cases analyzed here