PARTNERSHIPS IN R & D: A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REQUIREMENTS AND STAGES OF COOPERATION DOI: 10.5585/rai.v7i1.323

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in R&D alliances in the literature. Since 1980, hundreds of studies have been carried out aimed at explain how such alliances can spur innovation and what kind of resources they need. This work’s main objective is to identify such resources and to group them into some kinds of organized way. In order to match this objective, we analyzed three R&D alliances whose firms were located in TECNOPUC, a Science Park in Porto Alegre. Each alliance is supported by a large foreign firm that acts as main contractor, and a small sized Brazilian firm that acts as contracted agent. We followollwed three different steps in this study; in the first step, we undertook unstructured interviews with PUCRS and TECNOPUC`s managers and staff, analyzed formal and informal documents related to the technology park, and analyzed academic papers about TECNOPUC that provided insights for developing a broad understanding of the players and their practices. In the second step, we collected data using semi-structured in-depth interviews with managers from three companies working in TECNOPUC with the university. Finally,, data analysis was conducted and answers were double checked. As a result it was possible to group and organize the efforts taken by firms and depict a model containing an approach to allocate such efforts. Such a model could be applicable, but still it is necessary to achieve a better understanding on the role of conventions in R&D alliances.