The role of innovation support initiatives in Brazil: The case of FAPERJ in the State of Rio de Janeiro

The Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Support to Research in the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) is a public institution, linked to the Rio de Janeiro State Department for Science and Technology. It was set up for the purpose of promoting research and encouraging the scientific and technological activities necessary for the sociocultural development of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The aim of this article is to evaluate the evolution of FAPERJ’s role with reference to public policies developed in support of innovation, and to analyse the transition of policy objective from provision of a system of foment for scientific and technological development to another one that also induces innovation. The study involves an analysis of FAPERJ’s performance in the context of the national public policy provision of incentives to technology and innovation with reference to the types of programmes supported and the diversity of the players involved in those activities.