The evolution of university-enterprise interaction in Rio Grande do Sul: the case of mining and quarrying and manufacturing industries in the period 2008-2014

Abstract

This study investigates the evolution of university-enterprise interaction in the mining and quarrying and manufacturing industries of Rio Grande do Sul in the period 2008-2014, with comparisons between this process and that one observed in selected Brazilian states and industrialized nations. The results points that has been occurring a positive evolution in the technological capabilities of the firms and universities of Rio Grande do Sul, with a performance above of the national average, but still at an inferior level when compared to that of developed nations. This limitation appears to be relatively more critical to the industrial enterprises than to the universities. About the university-enterprise interaction in Rio Grande do Sul, even with its intensification in the period considered, it is still infrequent and is at a lower level than that seen in advanced countries. In addition, even with the existence of elements that facilitate the university-enterprise interaction, other factors acts as important constraints, such as the relatively still low technological capabilities of the industrial enterprises, the technological gap in some sectors of high and medium-high technology intensities and the industry structure, with a predominance of low-tech industries and small participation of medium and large sizes enterprises as a share of the total, as well as the relative low proportion of professors in exercise in higher education institutions that have engagement in research activities.