NETWORKS, MARKET AND ECOSYSTEM: An analysis of the results of the TECNOVA Public Innovation Policy in the State of Alagoas
Tecnova Public Policy; Innovation Ecosystems; National Innovation Systems.
The TECNOVA Program was a milestone for the Northeast region in terms of Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) policies, due to the democratization of access to resources for economic subsidies provided by the Federal Government. This enabled state with nascent Innovation Ecosystems to participate in resource acquisition processes. Launched by FINEP, the policy aimed to subsidize new companies - startups - and expand innovation activities in the country. Using a qualitative approach, through in-depth semi-structured interviews, this study seeks to elucidate the discussions surrounding Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) in order to answer the following question: What change was generated by the Tecnova Public Policy in Alagoas? The purpose of this project is to identify how the program's target audience perceives the implementation, how they were affected by the program's instruments, and what effects were generated. Additionally, we aim to understand how street-level bureaucrats have included the innovation agenda in the government's agenda and the institutional and bureaucratic arrangements of the policy throughout its cycle. As hypotheses, this study assumes that: (i) Tecnova did not generate significant results after its implementation, due to the lack of supportive environments and previous local innovation policies, leading to the immaturity of the companies; (ii) the Tecnova government policy has an effect on startup financing and the innovations produced, leading to business growth and success; and (iii) the Tecnova Program has generated positive changes for the local innovation sector, fostering new companies and the sector in the state of Alagoas.