1 - Camila Coletto UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL (UFRGS) - Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas em Agronegócios (CEPAN)
2 - Leonardo Caliari UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL (UFRGS) - Escola de Administração
3 - Daniela Callegaro de Menezes UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL (UFRGS) - Escola de Administração
Reumo
Innovation is considered one of the main vectors of development of contemporary society, being relevant to the national policy of developing countries that face economic, social and environmental challenges. Thus, scientific and technological parks (STPs) position themselves as protagonists that provide support for the operations of new technology-based companies, acting as promoters of the culture of innovation, competitiveness, and business training.
STPS are commonly seen as supporting actors in regional ecosystems. Therefore, it is argued that STPs can be considered as a structure conducive to the development of systemic innovations, through collaboration, complementarity, and interdependence between the different actors involved, that is, they present attributes of an innovation ecosystem. In this sense, the article aims to characterize the dynamics of the relations of a Scientific and Technological Park (STP) based on the attributes of an innovation ecosystem.
The theoretical background addresses the themes of Innovation Ecosystem and Science and Technology Parks in an integrated manner. It is based on the attributes of ecosystems proposed by Gomes et al (2021).
This study has a qualitative approach and a descriptive objective. Based on these characteristics, the study assumes a design that can be characterized as a case study (Yin, 2015). The case investigated is a Brazilian STP that has recognition in the area of innovation in food production and renewable energy generation. Data collection occurred through interviews, direct observation and documentary research. Data analysis was performed based on content analysis procedures and supported by lexicographic analysis developed in the Iramuteq software.
The results permitted to identify empirically the presence of a set of attributes for the management of innovation ecosystems, but in different intensities. The following are highlighted: Value Creation, Systemic Innovation, Actors, Interdependence, Structure, Dynamics, Collaboration, Competition, Complementarity, Identity, Value Capture and Flows. In addition to being observed individually, the interactions between the different attributes were verified, applied to the actors who relate with the STP.
These results allowed concluding that Scientific and Technological Parks (STPs) can be considered innovation ecosystems in which different actors complement each other to develop products and services based on the structure assigned by them. Considering that STPs have the ability to direct the value proposition, change the structure, as well as to train and to manage processes with new actors, it would enable the proposition of carrying out new activities in innovation environments.
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Gomes, L. A.V., Flechas, X. A., Facin, A. L. F., & Borini, F. M. (2021). Ecosystem management: Past achievements and future promises. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 171, 120950.
Leite, T. Q., Silva, A. L., Silva, J. R., & Silva, S. E. (2023). A multilevel analysis of the interaction between science parks and external agents: a study in Brazil and Portugal. Journal of the knowledge economy, 14(2), 1790-1829.