Technology transfer and innovation: The role of the Brazilian TTOs

Currently, Brazil is going through a very particular moment, in which we can recognize a paradigm shift in the role of economic actors – universities, companies and government – which are working together to generate the technological innovation necessary for the country’s sovereignty. This integration is of crucial importance because although the country is responsible for a significant part of world scientific production, the transformation of knowledge into wealth has yet to achieve similar success. This article aims to discuss the context of universities–companies–government cooperation in Brazil, giving special attention to the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), established in the country under the Technological Innovation Law, which is named as Technological Innovation Nucleus (NIT). Its function is to serve as a facilitator-interface to provide corporate access to universities, and to encourage technology transfer through licensing and/or through the creation of spin-offs,.