Redes e propriedade intelectual: análise das relações de colaboração em uma universidade pública

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the structure of the collaboration network of researchers from the Federal University of Lavras that have registered inventions on the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI), since 1995. The themes that correspond to the theoretical assumptions used to base this study are the strength of ties of Granovetter (1973) and the theory of structural holes of Burt (1992) and its importance to inter-organizational relations in the context of universities or research institutes. There is a brief literature review on sociometry, explanatory theories and important concepts to understanding social networking, technique to study relationships, contacts and ties processes that manifest themselves in various social groups. Some legal consents about intellectual property and its protection log categories were contextualized. Innovation-related approaches and its relevant empirical evidence to this study were explored. Regarding methodological procedures, it was adopted the document analysis, literature survey and in-depth personal interviews with 10 professors/researchers to understand the dynamics of intellectual property registration at UFLA and how their interactions are formed. To identify the network structure, the main actors, in addition to the procedures already mentioned, it was used the sociometric analysis, observing the authorship of inventions registered with the INPI, through the Center for Technology Innovation (Nintec), automatically calculated with the aid of software Ucinet and Netdraw. To identify opportunities for innovation, analyzing the structural holes, weak and strong ties within the network, through the UFLA departments, it was used as a parameter, the institutional bond registered in Lattes curriculum of the actors (teachers/researchers) and the matrix formed by the authorship of intellectual protection records. The ontologies and the knowledge generated in the registry network of intellectual property at the University were identified by indexing the summary records of intellectual properties and then using the web application WordleTM. The research is classified as exploratory and descriptive, and of qualitative and quantitative character. For data analysis, we used content analysis. Based on the results, it was possible to conclude that in this case study it can be evaluated the relationship between the theory of social networks and actors involved in the generation of intellectual property in a Brazilian university, UFLA. Regarding the network evolution, we can infer that most records originally stem from an academic-based research, targeted for publication, preceded by a literature review and at some point, it's identified something that could go beyond, possibly being some event or innovative technique that, based on the study, can provide interesting insights. The reduced number of protection records is closely related to the sparse culture of researchers, actors, teachers and others responsible for innovations in registering their inventions. However, there is a tendency towards records arising from initiatives of particular interest. A greater centrality directly influence the universalization of information, encouraging socialization and knowledge transfer, as well as being essential for understanding the collaborative procedures, currently clearer, due to investments in innovation and the nascent culture of intellectual protection registration at the university. Through this study it was possible to identify that many public policies have been implemented and strengthened in Brazil and UFLA, especially over the last decade. Finally, at UFLA we can identify concrete actions to encourage innovation, patenting acts and the promotion of networking efforts, characterized here by the creation of Nintec, Inbatec of LavrasTec, the Internationalization Project and the implementation of multiuser research laboratories.