O fio de Ariadne: compreendendo as interações da FAPEMIG no contexto da indução à inovação

Abstract

This thesis aims to understand the organizational practices involving the innovation management process carried out by the Minas Gerais Research Support Foundation (FAPEMIG). More specifically, it aims to a) map the uses of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) in organization studies through systematic review; b) describe and analyze the translation processes concerning the creation of FAPEMIG and its development in the context of its mission; c) to understand the obligatory points of passage within the dynamics of a public and private partnership; d) to analyze the interactions between FAPEMIG and the Intellectual Property Network of Minas Gerais (RMPI) in the scope of intellectual property policy in Minas Gerais. To this end, we adopted the Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as an analytical framework, for it provides a different perspective to approach any phenomenon that needs to be described and understood. The methodological definitions consisted of the participation of the researcher in the everyday activities of FAPEMIG, from August 1, 2016, to July 31, 2017. The data was collected through participant observations with the subjects, to experience the daily routine of FAPEMIG for one year, along with 26 interviews. We highlight that the methodological triangulation of the methods was employed. Grounded on this empirical structure, we adopted Strauss and Corbin’s (2008) open coding process to perform the analyses. The thesis was structured in two parts: the first corresponds to the introduction, actor-network theory, ontological, epistemological and methodological foundations, final remarks, and bibliographical references. The second part consists of four articles and appendices. The discussion of the data revealed that all work developed by FAPEMIG is inserted in a complex process of agreements and negotiations, with moments of instability, uncertainties, and risks that emerge mainly during times of economic crisis. The study also reveals FAPEMIG’s commitment to the complexity that innovation imposes, which led it to participate in the drafting of the Minas Gerais Innovation Act, which also served to regulate its new role in supporting and fostering innovation. Finally, the study demonstrated that ANT is a feasible approach to investigate complex partnerships between organizations.