National innovation system in Brazil: an introductory analysis from available data on science and technology

Abstract

The definition and the concept of national innovation system are summarized,
and a typology (with three categories) is suggested to specify the Brazilian situation. Brazil
is included in the category of countries that hadn’t their scientific and technological systems
transformed into mature national innovation systems. This hypothesis is investigated in
the light of available data on Brazilian R&D basic statistics: R&D expenditures, scientists
and researchers employed, scientific production and patents granted to residents in Brazil.
International comparisons are made, and two exercises are performed to test the “efficiency”
in the use of R&D resources as an input of scientific articles production and patents granting
(both seen as an R&D output). In the conclusion, it is argued that exists a methodological
question when one intends to apply the concept of national innovation system to semiindustrialized
countries like Brazil.

JEL Classification: B52; O30.