Inovelab

The Observatory for Innovation and Competitiveness is a joint initiative of the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI), the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), the Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Center for Strategic Mangement Studies (CGEE).

The Observatory aims at strengthening the Brazilian Industrial, Technological and Foreign Trade Policy and fostering the necessary improvements in the economy in order to promote the increase of competitiveness and development.
Its basic functions include the monitoring, promotion, research and proposition of work agendas related to innovation, in comparison with international benchmarks and trajectories.

In doing so, it will contribute to the common understanding of the issues at stake for innovation leverage and competitiveness increase in Brazil, policy formulation and investment decisions.

The Observatory has its headquarters in São Paulo, at the institute of Advanced Studies of the University of São Paulo. Research teams and technical groups are based in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília. Activities and projects count on the participation of a network of partner institutions and researchers all over the Country. Above all, the Observatory is an open initiative. New partners and projects are expected to be added as the initiative consolidates and evolves.

Fostering innovation is one of the key challenges Brazil faces as the country strives to emerge as a force in the global economy. In the twentieth century, Brazilian scientists and research institutions developed and established the country’s capacity to produce state-of-the-art knowledge in various fields. Innovation, or the ability to apply knowledge in the development and production of goods and services, however, remains largely absent in many sectors of the economy. To address this issue the country needs to advance public policies on science and technology that help translate the country’s strong research base into products and services that benefit consumers and society at large. Better public policies create incentives and foster the necessary environment that will support companies in their effort to turn ideas into competitive products and services.

Over the past year the Brazil Institute and the Program on Science, Technology, America and the Global Economy (STAGE) have jointly sponsored a series of events to advance research and dialogue on critical economic issues, focusing particularly on the roles of innovation. This 16-page report assesses how better public policies can create incentives and foster the necessary environment that will support companies in their effort to turn ideas into competitive products and services. Click here to download this publication.