Ecoinovações no polo industrial de Manaus : direcionadores e fatores determinantes

Abstract

One of the points of relevance of the Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development of 1987 concerns the non-predatory use of natural resources and the degradation of the environment. Innovations emerge as a means to achieve these goals and organizations have an important role to play in this regard. Organizational studies on eco-innovation (EI) are concentrated in developed countries and the literature has recommended new research to analyze specific factors and conditions in developing countries. Following this recommendation, the research sought to identify the drivers of eco-innovations in the industries installed in the Industrial Pole of the Manaus Free Trade Zone and concomitantly the obstacles and orientation to the innovation of these organizations. From the methodological point of view the research was developed in the form of a case study, to be analyzed under the qualitative and quantitative perspectives.The qualitative and exploratory approach was developed through interviews and analyzed through content analysis. The quantitative approach was performed through a survey of a sample of industrial companies located in Manaus. The research contributes to eco-innovation theory Manaus Free Trade Zone, identifying regional drivers as proposed in previous studies. Amazonian biodiversity is considered the main potential factor that can guide eco-innovations, through the development of new products, through biotechnologies, biopharmaceuticals, bio-cosmetics and herbal medicines. Other identified drivers are related to changes in local legislation, resources for Research and Development, innovative courses, development of reverse technologies (reuse of waste in productive processes), environmental certification, competitiveness, creativity and business continuity. The most relevant difficulties and obstacles are related to the disarticulation between companies, academia and government bodies due to the lack of a structured innovation system and a consolidated innovation model. Other obstacles stem from economic and managerial problems, cultural, operational and political reasons. Finally, the research provided insights for the proposal of future studies related to drivers of eco-innovations, deficiencies and obstacles to the consolidation of innovation systems and their impacts on the development of new products and processes, obstacles to integration among the agents of the triple helix (universisties companies, and government) and its reflections on the development of innovations, orientation and obstacles to innovation related to organizational performance (financial, technological and environmental).