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This paper compares the results of four country studies (Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico) on the relative effectiveness of channels of interactions between public research organisations (PROs) and industry in driving specific types of benefits for researchers and firms. All studies used micro-datasets developed by a joint project using common questionnaires. Channels of interactions were classified into four groups (traditional, services, bi-directional and commercial) while benefits were classified into two groups for firms (short-term production and long-term innovation) and for researchers (economic and intellectual). It is found that the bi-directional (knowledge flows in both directions) and the services (knowledge flows mainly from PROs to firms) channels drive intellectual benefits for researchers. Firms tend to value the traditional channel (i.e. graduates, publications, conferences) more than any other channel. However, it is the bi-directional channel that drives the best benefits, especially those related to contributions to innovation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes trends in the evolution of public research organizations (PROs) with special emphasis on the Brazilian case. Given the central role in global competitiveness played by policies of fostering innovation, PROs are increasingly stimulated to restructure themselves in order to participate in the innovation process. This is a global phenomenon but its specific characteristics differ between countries. The formats and contents of PROs in Brazil have changed significantly in the last 15 years. Three main trajectories can be identified for Brazilian institutions: path finders (those that have adapted their original paths to the innovation perspective), path founders (those that have had to construct new paths), and path losers (those that have lost their original paths and have not found another). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]