Collaborative research network: Building capacity for applied biomedical research in a public research institution

Brazil has a low rate of technology exchange transfer between public research institutions and the productive sector. Brazilian health system is also increasing the use of biotechnologies and high pricing equipments.  The raising cost of inputs and the dependency on licensing create access barriers to the public health system for over 30% of Brazilian population. The health system also faces the challenge of fighting tropical diseases. In this scenario, the largest biomedical research organization in Brazil, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), an institution tied to the Health Minister, has been promoting since 2002, a change in its R&D policies. The aim is to intensify the development and production of technologies that have a high potential impact over the national productive sector and, in particular, for the public health system. One of Fiocruz initiative to induce the development of new inputs in health is organizing techno-science production in collaborative networks. Our study aims to understand Fiocruz innovation policy by describing and analyzing the collaborative networks as a mode of organizing biomedical research. Empirical evidences points out that the adopted model is in harmony with the policies established by countries with high performance in biotechnology. Nevertheless, the model presents dissonances not only with Fiocruz organizational and administrative structure - hierarchical departments, extensive bureaucratic procedures with weak ties – but also with the bioscience academic research, dedicated to production and circulation of codified knowledge. Therefore, the study aims to identify and systematize: (1) the strategies adopted to deal with these dissonances; (2) the transposition of models of coordination, technologies production and information flowing through the llaborative.networks, technological platforms and flexible laboratories. We adopt a qualitative approach that triangulates data from open end interviews, documental analysis and ethnographical observations.