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UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION NUCLEUS (NITs): THE BRAZILIAN TECHNOLOGY

TRANSFER EXPERIENCE

Marli Elizabeth Ritter dos Santos, PhDFORTEC Past-President

Coordinator at the Technology Transfer Office of the Pontifical

Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil

Overview

• Since the 90’s, IP and TT practices have been implemented in Brazilian Universities;

• Enhancement due to the Technological Innovation Act (2004);

• Encouragement to create Technological Innovation Nucleus;

• The formation of the National Forum of Innovation and Technology Transfer Managers (FORTEC).

Background

• Diffuse perception of the role played by Universities in the innovation process.

• Interaction between Universities and Companies arose informally with no institutional follow-up.

• The R&D carried out at universities with companies was praised mostly per se, rather than for any interest in achieving usable results by industry.

• No concern for the protection of intellectual property.

• Inexistence of a specific regulation for technology transfer.

The new national scene

• New legislation and governmental programs have changed the Brazilian STI scenario

– The interaction between Universities and Companies becomes a part of the STI research agenda

– Brazilian Universities realized the importance of the intellectual property protection

– The emergence of specified Offices (NITs) and new innovation management mechanisms

The NITs and the Innovation Act

• In Section 16 is prescribed that:– “the IST shall provide a NIT of its own or shared with other

institutions, so as to rule its innovation policy” (Law nº 10.973/2004)

• Minimum competencies• NIT: the institutional manager of the IST’s innovation

policy• Increase of the number of NITs throughout the

country

What NITs do in Brazil• The Innovation Act emphasizes the IP management,

but the range of activities carried out is wider.

• Overall, the scope of a NIT’s activities is related to:

- the research volume;

– the institution’s role in economic development both at the local and regional level;

• capacity of local companies to use the research results;

– the necessity of enabling human resources.

Government support to the NITs

• Public Requests for projects submissions– From 2001 to 2008, resources about US$ 15 million were

granted to support more than 80 projects.

• Evaluation Seminars– Spreading of the IP culture– Case-by-case process– Dependence upon temporary staff

The performance of NITs

• Increase by 57% in the number of NITs (from 43 in 2006 to 101 in 2008);

• Increase in the volume of royalties collected by technology transfer– From less than US$ 500,000 to almost US$ 7 million in

2008;

• Increase in the number of institutions that are applying for and being granted patents abroad.

FORTEC

• It is a forum representing those responsible at universities and research institutes by management of innovation policies and activities related to intellectual property and technology transfer.

• It was created in 2006, May 1st.• 161 public and private ISTs.

Website: www.fortec-br.org

NORTH

NORTHEAST

MIDWEST

SOUTHEAST

SOUTH

Federal Universities

State Universities

Private Universities

Research Institutes

FORTEC: 161 participants

23

6 6

17

0

10

20

SOUTHEAST – 52 NITs

10 622

60

50

7

32

2

0

5

10

5 3 15

0

1020

62

9

0

10

20NORTH – 14 NITs NORTHEAST – 37 NITs

MIDWEST – 14 NITs

SOUTH – 44 NITs

FORTEC Achievements• Representation in government programs• Strategic alliances• Partnership with industrial sector• MOUs signed with similar national and international

organizations• Annual Meetings• Actions to foster innovation:

• Best management practices• Training courses• Spreading and disclosing new technologies

Perspectives The changes in Brazilian innovation scenario are evident;

The enhancement of the NITs activities is in straightforward connection with the amount and quality of the research carried out by ISTs;

The Innovation Act brought forth many advances in the regulation framework, but it is still necessary a higher advance to turn more benefits into reality;

It is necessary to keep continuous investment in training and qualification of human resources.

Thank you!

elizabeth.ritter@pucrs.br

fortec@fortec-br.org