Public University and Open Science: the inventive potential in urgent demands scenarios

Abstract

In the scenario of urgent demands caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the University of São Paulo developed, in record time, a low-cost mechanical ventilator that gained large repercussion. The present analysis intends to demonstrate that its ultimate success is viscerally associated with two aspects that integrate the scope of the present research: the public university as its locus of creation and its legal regime of open license, referring to the institute of open science. The present paper, therefore, focuses on the successful case of the lung ventilator to address, firstly, the role of the public university and its capacity for technological production, as well as its deficits and problems. Secondly, the pioneering application, in Brazil, of a unique legal regulation, the creative commons license and its role in the development of innovations and access to knowledge. And lastly, which attributes to the university and the open science model fostered the referred technological production and what is the possible interconnection between these elements. To this end, this study is structured through bibliographic review of relevant productions and the search for data and quantitative information pertinent to its scope. The use of these methods allowed the conclusion that open science is an effective alternative to the traditional patenting system and, within the public university, can promote profound impacts, stimulating innovations and access to knowledge, especially in emergency contexts such as the current coronavirus pandemic.