Geciane Silveira Porto

Implementing Open Innovation: The Case of Natura, IBM and Siemens

This paper analyses three case firms whose innovation management processes have been consolidated. The companies Natura, IBM (Brazilian Subsidiary) and Siemens (ChemTech/Brazil) were studied with the purpose of analysing the implementation of OI, particularly in terms of: (a) its alignment with existing corporate strategy; (b) its requirements such as culture, skill and motivation; (c) the strategy and the implementation process; (d) the results achieved (e) the present barriers and enablers. The research is qualitative in nature and employs a descriptive approach. The main results of this study, obtained using a method called ‘Collective Subject Speech’ , show that the implementation of OI, both structured and non-structured, is mainly challenged by cultural issues. It has been observed that the implementation of OI process is at its embryonic stage in all case firms and that this occurs along with investments in closed innovation, meaning that OI results cannot be explored at this stage of the implementation, as there is a long way to consolidate these practices in the case firms studied.

Gestão de Transferência de Tecnologia na Inova Unicamp

The aim of this study is to verify how Inova Unicamp manages its technology transfer (TT) process. A TT process can be understood as the passage of technology and knowledge from one organization to another (Bozeman, 2000). We conducted a qualitative study using a semi-structured interview of the institution directors. The results reveal that the TT Inova Unicamp model management is in a continuous maturing process, but must still overcome bottlenecks related to a shortage of permanent staff, a large number of temporary staff and a lack of an institutional policy to regulate the creation of spin-off companies.

Ten years of iPSC: clinical potential and advances in vitro hematopoietic differentiation

Ten years have passed since the first publication announcing the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Issues related to ethics, immune rejection, and cell availability seemed to be solved following this breakthrough. The development of iPSC technology allows advances in in vitro cell differentiation for cell therapy purpose and other clinical applications. This review provides a perspective on the iPSC potential for cell therapies, particularly for hematological applications. We discuss the advances in in vitro hematopoietic differentiation, the possibilities to employ iPSC in hematology studies, and their potential clinical application in hematologic diseases. The generation of red blood cells and functional T cells and the genome editing technology applied to mutation correction are also covered. We highlight some of the requirements and obstacles to be overcome before translating these cells from research to the clinic, for instance, iPSC variability, genotoxicity, the differentiation process, and engraftment. Also, we evaluate the patent landscape and compile the clinical trials in the field of pluripotent stem cells. Currently, we know much more about iPSC than in 2006, but there are still challenges that must be solved. A greater understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the generation of hematopoietic stem cells is necessary to produce suitable and transplantable hematopoietic stem progenitor cells from iPSC.

The methylic versus the ethylic route: considerations about the sustainability of Brazilian biodiesel production

AbstractBrazil is considered one of the world’s leading producers of biofuels given the predominance of ethanol fuel in its energy matrix. However, despite the prominence of Brazil in ethanol production, the vast majority of biodiesel production plants in Brazil use methanol instead of ethanol as the alcohol for transesterification reaction, as is generally the case in the rest of the world. The aim of this paper is therefore to examine the transesterification process in the Brazilian biodiesel production in terms of sustainability. In this regard, it was necessary to evaluate the way in which the industrial process is currently carried out, the role of government incentives or subsidies for the use of ethanol to produce biodiesel, and the investments of companies in technology development for the same purpose. This study presents indications that the development of the biodiesel market in Brazil is still oriented toward a production model which is inconsistent with the environmental and social aspects of sustainability.

Gestão da cooperação empresa-universidade: o caso de uma Multinacional Brasileira

This paper aims to examine how a Brazilian multinational manages cooperation with external sources of technology, such as universities and research institutes. To achieve this, qualitative research of a descriptive nature was performed and the case study method was used. Empresa Brasileira de Compressores [Embraco] was studied in depth. The survey results showed that Embraco manages cooperation with external sources of technology following a formal pattern of management, integrated by eleven administrative practices that are linearly processed. These management practices are basically carried out sequentially in three stages: the pre-development of cooperation stage, which is the project definition, the partner selection and the activity planning; the cooperation development stage, in which contracts are signed, the infrastructure is organized and activities are implemented and monitored; and the cooperation post-development stage in which the activities are evaluated, knowledge is transferred and intellectual property is guaranteed. Only monitoring and evaluation practices tend to occur more dynamically through the cooperation process.

Características do processo decisório na cooperação empresa-universidade

This research analyses the behaviour of the making decision process, and the characteristics of the decision of technological development by means of cooperation industry-university. With this purpose this empirical research was carried out through 128 technological intensive companies, with the purpose to test 4 hypotheses, which had been defined on the basis of the theoretical referential. In order the test own hypotheses mean difference tests and factorial analysis were computed. This research analysed bottle the 69 companies intensive technology that decided to cooperate, and 59 companies that decided not to cooperate with the university in the order to develop technological projects. The results are grouped in three topics: a) the decision of cooperation; b) the structure of decision; and c) the uncertainties of the decision process. Section IX contains our final findings and a bibliographical reference finishes the paper.

Análise exploratória sobre a mensuração de resultados da capacitação via estágios pós-doutorais: heterogeneidade entre grandes áreas do conhecimento?

RESUMO A pesquisa aqui apresentada caracteriza-se como um estudo de caso de carater exploratorio e teve como objetivo mapear a influencia do estagio pos-doutoral sobre a producao dos docentes em programas de pos-graduacao da Universidade de Sao Paulo. O estudo busca a mensuracao de variacoes da producao cientifica em panoramas ex ante e ex post e encontra-se circunscrito a grandes areas do conhecimento: Biologicas, Engenharias, Exatas e da Terra, e Saude. Enquanto parte de um estudo mais amplo em que se objetiva estudar a influencia do pos-doutorado sobre a produtividade no sistema de pos-graduacao da universidade, neste artigo investiga-se especificamente se ocorrem diferencas significativas na variacao da producao em Ciencia e Tecnologia (C&T) em funcao da grande area do conhecimento de atuacao do pesquisador. Com uma populacao de 86 doutores que realizaram o estagio pos-doutoral ate junho de 2003, os dados levantados apontam diferencas entre as areas do conhecimento em termos da producao absoluta (numero de artigos publicados). Contudo, o confronto da producao em C&T antes e depois do treinamento pos-doutoral aponta para um comportamento de variacao ou de sobressalto na producao cientifica cujo resultado sugere nao haver diferencas significativas, alem de demonstrar homogeneizacao relativa entre as grandes areas do conhecimento investigadas.

Interorganizational innovation networks of Brazilian and Spanish biotechnology companies: Dynamic comparative analysis

This study has the purpose of conducting a dynamic comparative analysis of interorganizational innovation networks of Brazilian and Spanish biotechnology companies. It aims to explore the differences between the network characteristics and their actors’ positions and types as well as to analyze the temporal evolution of these networks. Although analyses of the evolution of networks are relevant in supporting comprehension of paths for innovation, they are incipient, particularly as cross-country studies. Considering that, this comparison between Brazil and Spain, which are at different levels of biotechnology development, may contribute to the advancement of this area. Social network analysis techniques are employed to draw and measure the network characteristics constructed under the information of patent applications by biotechnology companies located in Brazil and Spain in the period of 1990–2012. The results demonstrate an impressive growth of innovation networks from both countries but show an inferior position for Brazilian data in terms of constancy, volume of partnerships, partner diversity, and main actor types. Thus, this article reveals patterns of evolution over time for each country, which allows for the determination of the implications for public policy and managerial experts.

Patent mining and landscaping of emerging recombinant factor VIII through network analysis

A landscape analysis of the recombinant factor VIII patent sector using network analysis to map the cooperation network among assignees shows emerging technologies that focus on improved methods for rFVIII production and bioactivity performance.

Project Stakeholder Management: A Case Study of a Brazilian Science Park

The stakeholder management has been a topic increasingly discussed in the literature about project management, though still existing, large gaps to be filled, especially in complex projects such as the implementation of science parks. Thus, in this paper is presented a case of a Brazilian Science Park which shows how the management team of the project identified key stakeholders and established strategies for engagement and collaboration that sought to increase their engagement, get resources and make use of specific capabilities that were required during the lifecycle of the project to the reaching of its goals.