Innovation ecosystem: metrics for brazilian ICTs

In contemporary society, innovation and technology are key elements for competitiveness and improving society's quality of life. Throughout its evolutionary process, the University and the Science and Technology Institutions (STIs) have ceased to be closed institutions, holders of knowledge, and have been taking a more leading role in the regional innovation ecosystem, generating an impact on their surroundings. This study aimed to build and apply a model that would allow the measurement of the level of innovation of an STI ecosystems. After a vast review of the existing literature, a framework was built and proposed, which was tested and applied. Data were collected from 49 STIs, representing various regions of the country. The analyzed results showed that 73.5% of Brazilian STIs somehow insert innovation in their institutional political strategy. Its results as a third mission show that 38.8% of STIs establish high or very high-level links with the regional ecosystem. In terms of experience with the theme, we have a divided sample, with more than 50% with more than 10 years of tradition in the sector, 36% with more than 15 years, as well as 43% of STIs with less than 5 years of experience. About spin-offs generation, 25% of the sample still has no results to show, 77.3% generated less than 30 companies, and 10% of ICTs supported more than 60 projects. Considering the production of research and patents from ecosystems, the data show an equitable distribution at various levels of maturity. As for the human resources allocated for innovation, two extreme groups stand out, one with 34.7% with a lower level than the average and the other with 24.5% with a high investment in this line, with more than 20 people participating in the process. It was identified that the vast majority of institutions have socalled business generation mechanisms (incubators and the like), as well as innovation environments, with the concepts of these structures being quite consolidated in the country. The study identifies that metrics for monitoring innovation ecosystems are another way to guide STIs in order to enhance their strategies, resources, processes and culture in the context of innovation and the generation of spin offs for the market.