Cooperação em projeto de P&D pré-competitivo - um estudo no ambiente do consórcio de pesquisa da tecnologia de processamento por atrito e mistura

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the importance of collaborative research agreements and the impact of projects with a long-term perspective operating with risk and investment sharing. Given the uncertainties surrounding the new technologies research field, the Precompetitive R&D consortia model, object of this study, is adequate as it provides a collaborative work from shared interests among the members and has as strategy the integration of partners’ strong suits, and thus contribute to a higher quality and differentiation level with lower costs and better time. This collaborative research model eases the development of cutting-edge technology. Its essence is the technologies testing from precompetitive stages to maturity levels which attract participating companies that, after mastering certain technologies, may eventually use them in new products or enhance existing products. The technologies maturity assessment is done with Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale which helps comparing different technologies and helps in the selection of the best candidates to be part of the companies’ portfolio. Based on this overview, and on the realization that there are few samples of precompetitive R&D consortium in Brazil, the goals were defined, namely, definition of hurdles to consortia implementation and development, analysis of how companies, among multiple possibilities, in precompetitive stage, select promising technologies that may generate a strategic valuable asset to their business. It was not a goal of this work to study the materials characterization in the experimental science and technology research setting. The research was conducted from an exploratory approach and considered as analysis unit the Friction Processing Consortium (C2PA), pioneer in this modality in Brazil. The research had two distinct complementary stages: the first stage was the literature review that really contributed to a better comprehension and handling of the second stage, which was when observation techniques and interviews with consortium members deputies were applied. The case study results showed that the barriers to R&D cooperation agreements usually reflect the different formation types, i.e., if the hurdles are related to the number of participants or if they are competing companies. At the same time, it was possible to identify barriers that can be generically associated with any consortium configuration. As to the selection criteria of technologies developed in the consortium, the research showed that the decision making consistently considered the technology suitability to the existing or future projects in the participating company portfolio. The main conclusion shows that the Brazilian companies accession to the precompetitive R&D consortium model is specially associated with the R&D culture change in the national industry that favors commodities in order to meet the immediate market demands instead of long-term research which promotes innovation and, consequently, increases the chances of generating greater competitive advantages to the companies and to the country.