Os determinantes das Redes Brasileiras de Copatenteamento

Abstract

The study of processes and causes of how networks are formed emerges in the context of the debate about the role of inventors’ cooperation and its benefits to innovation systems. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the determinants of co-patents ties formation in Brazil in the first decade of the 20th century (2000-2011). Traditionally, the empirical works on the theme used the framework of Economic Geography to study the role of space in nodes cooperation. Recently, the use of social network analysis instruments proved to be useful to identify internal processes in network topology. In this dissertation, both frameworks are used, combining the analytical instruments of spaces and relations. The problem has two viewpoints: how regions connect to each other and how inventors connect to each other. The databases used are the Database on Statistics of Intellectual Property (BADEPI) from INPI, and the Annual Report of Social Information from Labour Ministry. The main results indicate that: (1) geography still plays a fundamental role in forming networks; (2) the network and its subcomponents are spatially concentrated; (3) there is an unequal geographical agglomeration patterns in the Brazilian invention system; (4) technical and relational proximity are important factors in determining new connections and (5) inventors seek for similar socialeconomic partners, although there are benefits of cooperation with players there are wealthier and better positioned in the network.