The problem of university/industry relations in Portugal
The research project 'Competitiveness and social exclusion: The metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Oporto' has highlighted the key role played by the relationship between universities and industry in the drive for innovation. The report, written by Luísa Oliveira and Helena Carvalho, was financed by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Science and Technology Foundation). It is based on the concept that competitiveness in the present economy has replaced a model of mass production of low price and standardised products with a mode of development based on the rate of creation of new products and new markets. Scientific research is the source of knowledge excellence of this type of product. The key aspect in the effective response to the challenges of innovation is determined by how well the knowledge of universities is transferred to companies, be it through the absorption of graduates and postgraduates (knowledge workers) or through the direct utilisation of research and development (R&D) activities, a process that is dominant in the economies which have a strong science-based sector, such as telecommunications or biotechnology. The Portuguese business and industrial scene is characterised by a low presence in these sectors and by a small contribution by companies to national expenditure on science and technology (S&T). The authors aimed to explore the possibility that the area of innovation in Portugal is segmented, taking into account the following structure variables in this area: the 'in-company knowledge' (measured by qualified staff, and by the existence of R&D activities); the 'innovation' (product innovation in the last five years) and 'relations with S&T institutions' (research centres, technical consultants, universities, public laboratories, the Portuguese Institute of Quality and technological centres). The conclusions show that the area of innovation is not homogenous. The authors found a strong structural feature that marks a dualisation of the innovation area, in accordance with a concentration - greater or smaller - of technological knowledge. In this form, the companies with connections to S&T system institutions are also the ones with the highest levels of qualified staff, internal R&D departments and an association with highly qualified managers. On the other hand, they found companies that have no dealings with those institutions, that have low or non-existent levels of recruitment of qualified staff and to which poorly qualified managers are associated. This dualisation translates into a very differentiated capacity for product innovation.
Kraje
Portugal