Technological Effort and Innovative Performance in Brazilian Bio Companies

Abstract

This work had the objective to analyze technological efforts and to evaluate the innovative performance of biotechnology and biosciences companies in Belo Horizonte, (MG, Brazil). In order to reach these objectives, a survey was undertaken in eight companies. Data collection was undertaken with an existent questionnaire found in the literature of sciencebased companies, therefore a replication process was carried out The analyses of collected information have indicated that the companies have expended substantial technological efforts oriented towards internal R&D in their majority. A minority of companies have expended less expressive technological efforts related to technology acquisition through external sources. The internal R&D activities observed are more directed to product than to process innovation. As for innovative performance, the results have evidenced that it is concentrated in the minority of companies and the number of substantially new products is superior to the number of technologically improved products launched in the market.

Analysis of Aspects of Innovation in a Brazilian Cluster

“…Moreover, the transfer and dissemination of "ideas, skills, knowledge, information and signs" is stressed as a key factor by systemic view of innovation (OECD, 2005), of which is a learning process in enterprises is assimilation process which produces and disseminates new knowledge (Lopes and Judice, 2011).…”