Transferência de tecnologia e parceria para o desenvolvimento produtivo no setor de biotecnologia: um estudo de caso na Fundação Ezequiel Dias

Abstract

The life expectancy and the quality of life of a population are directly influenced by the health system and depend on the access to goods, products and health services. The health sector is also important for the national economic and technological development. In Brazil, the government has implemented policies to generate new technological skills and new business in healthcare by fostering the establishment of partnerships for productive development (PDP) involving technology transfer (TT). These policies have promoted economic development by inducing the interaction between science and technology networks. Given the technological complexity and the high budget involved in TT, these projects require continuous assessment, extensive planning and formal monitoring. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the TT and PDPs related to national production of biotech drugs using the TT of the Meningococcal C conjugate vaccine (MenC) for Funed as a reference. Between 2010 and 2015, Funed provided over 55 million doses of MenC the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The project of TT also promoted high financial transactions on contracts between Funed besides demonstrating financial benefit and savings for the federal government, reducing the price of vaccine doses relative to the values prevailing in the international market. The incorporation of MenC in the national immunization schedule since 2010 had a significant impact in public health. The number of cases of meningitis C in children under five was reduced by 84% and the total number of deaths attributed to serogroup C was reduced by 57%. Both the transfer of technology and the acquired know-how will contribute to the development of other projects. Therefore, in addition to financial gain and social impact, the TT has helped to strengthen the national health system concerning its productive capacity and its scientific, technological and innovative aspects. Also, the TT project promoted economic and social development and reduced the vulnerability of access to goods, products and health services.