Search

This study aims to analyze the network of interactions of Brazilian medical research groups, identifying key actors and their roles in generating and diffusing knowledge. Social network analysis was applied, with data from the Research Groups Directory Census of the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development, from 2016. The main results show (1) the central role of universities, public institutes, and university hospital research groups; (2) the importance of scientific infrastructure and research capability of scientists in knowledge production; (3) the minor role of the industry, denoting the fragility of university–industry interactions; (4) spatial concentration of network actors, mostly located in the south and southeast of Brazil; and (5) a great opportunity to expand flows and cooperation. Regarding these results, the recent budgetary cuts in science and technology resources since 2016 seem to be a misguided and detrimental strategy as these resources are essential for future technological and industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent literature has called attention to the significance of mission-oriented policies (MOPs) in setting the directions of change, market creation, and economic development. The aim of this article is to analyze and discuss the main challenges of setting MOPs in the context of developing countries. We do so by looking at the recent development of the Brazilian shipbuilding sector where an entire institutional setting was put in place to boost technological and industrial development. We investigate the policies set for the sector to create a market, stimulate the industry, and promote innovation. Results show that, while the set of policies emplaced was able to give an initial boost in the sector, coordination uncertainties and high capability-building costs precipitated the failure of the industry to catchup with international competitors. We argue that there is a fuzzy boundary between policy expectations for market creation and the actual possibilities of building an industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to explain what policy approaches and policy measures are best suited for promoting new regional industrial path development and what needs and possibilities there are for such policy to change and adapt to new conditions in order to remain efficient. The article departs from the notion of Smart Specialization and discusses how regional strategies that are inspired by this approach influence path renewal and new path creation and how they are related to and aligned with policy strategies implemented at other scales (local, regional, national, supranational). Our main argument is that new regional industrial growth paths require both continuity and change within the support structure of the innovation system. Unless smart specialization strategies are able to combine such adaptation and continuity, they fail to promote path renewal and new path creation. Our arguments are illustrated with empirical findings from the regional innovation system of Scania, South Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]