Analysis of suplly and demand of Tecnological Services (TSs) in Londrina: strengthening technological competencies and structuring a regional innovation system

Resumo

The purpose of this paper was to analyse the available resources and the major impediments to the structuring of a regional innovation system to improve the technological development in Londrina, in Northern Paraná, South of Brazil. The study focused on three industrial sectors, as follows: 1. food and beverages; 2. chemical / pharmaceutical / veterinarian and 3. software / electronic / telecommunication / electrical and electromechanical. The existing resources and capabilities to supply technological services (TSs) to industries of these three sectors, as well as the industrial demand for such services, were investigated. These services are carried out in labs and include dosages, determinations, gauging, calibration, and performance tests to provide industrial processes and products qualification. Over than 100 structured interviews were carried out in universities, research centers and private companies. The results showed that these S&T institutional resources and capabilities are directed to scientific ends and only a little research has been applied. Also only a few local university and research center labs have some tradition of supplying TSs to companies of the food/beverage and chemical industries. On the other hand, only a few companies from these two sectors look for TSs in these local S&T institutions.