Latin American technological production of greatest international visibility. 1996-2007. A case study: Brasil

This work proposes a set of indicators based on patent documents that allow researchers to represent and analyse the behaviour of technological production within a particular domain. This proposal is here validated via a case stucdy. Collected data were processed employing an in-house tool designed for use in patentometric studies. Latin American. technological knowledge published in the USA between September 7996 and April 1997 was examined, paying special attention to that of Brazil, The largest Latin American filer of patents. The set of patentometric indicators. proposed allows one to quantify and qualify the behaviour of technological production in terms of the patents granted. Using The patents analysed, the technological capacity revealed in the different technical areas covered is represented, along with The ranking of institutes, research centres and industries, etc. The productivity of their principal technologists and their relationships is also shown. The latter element of analysis favours cooperation and technological exchange, as well as the identification of priorities and opportunities. The above information is an aid for the planning, implementation and assessment of research and technological development policies at any level. This kind of analysis is considered an indispensable tool for improving our knowledge of regional technological resources. It also encourages the better use of existing technological capacities.