Inovação em grupos de pesquisa em nanotecnologia : um estudo de caso no Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Currently, the organizations compete in a scenario of constant change, requiring thus technological capacity to meet market demands. In this scenario, the nanotech industry emerges as a promise of future that continues on establishing itself every day, not only due to the inherent innovative profile of inventions and innovations in this sector, but also because it requires creation and maintenance of interorganizational interactions to promote these innovations. Therefore, this study aimed at analyze the profile of innovation and its current dynamics in research groups in nanotechnology CNPq. In order to implement the study, it was applied a survey with exploratory and descriptive goals. As research procedure, it was used one survey, with two data collection instruments sent electronically to the researchers members of research groups in the area of nanotechnology, registered in the Research Groups Directory of Brazil, linked to CNPq, located in Rio Grande do Sul state and that effectively work with nanotechnology. The instrument to the leaders of the groups was answered by 10 research groups. The instrument for the general researchers obtained 28 returns. The collected data was analyzed and described using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as correlation analysis and Mann-Whitney U Test. Data analysis allowed the identification of results such as the increase of international publications, representing the main motivation found by researchers to integrate research groups in nanotechnology, while the relationship with other groups is the main difficulty. Moreover, the lack of infrastructure of laboratories and the difficulty in obtaining financing are barriers to nanotechnology development, stalling technological production or development of new products. Still, the cost factor could not be affiliated to the motivations nor the difficulties encountered by researchers as opposed to the evidence in the literature. In addition, although the groups have a focused setting the sharing of interorganizational knowledge for the promotion of innovation, it is not possible to identify the existence of innovation in activities related to the groups, due to the lack of an innovative process in which inventions reach the market. Furthermore, regarding the knowledge in the groups, it’s possible to see that the use of formal mechanisms of knowledge socialization could lead to the creation of new skills and, therefore, the existence of an innovative process.