Startups de bionegócios nas incubadoras de empresas em Manaus-AM: sustentabilidade ambiental, transferência de tecnologia, capacitação e inovação tecnológica

Abstract

This research examines the practice of innovation, environmental sustainability, technological capacity building, and technology transfer in biotechnology, in startups or spin-offs of bio-businesses located in business incubators in Manaus-AM. It is based on the evolution of innovation theory, from Schumpeter's postulates, identified in important models for evaluating the innovation process such as those contained in the Oslo Manuals of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - OECD, the Legal Framework for Innovation, and the Brazilian Biodiversity Law. The method used in this research is a multiple case study. Regarding the nature of the research, it is defined as both qualitative and quantitative. Regarding the type of research, it is defined as exploratory and descriptive; regarding the research procedures, it is defined as bibliographic, documentary, and field research. The data collection instrument was an online survey, using a form created in Google Forms, submitted to the startups of the incubated companies, as well as unstructured interviews with the managers of incubated companies. As a result, four scientific articles and one book chapter were published, and data collected in the final phase of the research may result in new publications corresponding to the specific objectives. Some of these results, related to the profile of the startups, indicate that their workforce has different levels of education (PhDs, Masters, and graduates), the companies are at different stages of maturity, with most already in operation. The food sector is the predominant economic activity among them. The startups' concern with environmental sustainability was noted. A need was observed to create mechanisms for monitoring the companies by the incubator in order to detect their specific needs, such as: specific training and capacity building; consulting on intellectual property and compliance with biodiversity laws; increased interaction with ICTs; encouragement of market access; strengthened support in the preparation of projects for access to funding opportunities; easier access to laboratories and, consequently, acceleration of the technology transfer and innovation process of the incubated companies in bio-businesses.