Abstract
This paper aims to contribute to the characterization of processes that generate knowledge and innovation in the health sector in emerging countries, such as Brazil. In order to do so, the interactions of five research groups from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul were analyzed. In addition to the field research the study was based on secondary data. This exploratory study identified important characteristics of the interactions: multidisciplinary researcher teams qualify the process of generating knowledge and innovations; the teaching hospital is the key actor; patients are relevant in the establishment of interactions and generation of knowledge by the groups, whereas clinical research constitutes an important way of creating new ideas; other researchers in Brazil and abroad participate in the process of generating knowledge; there is a disconnection between scientific and technological production. These characteristics corroborate at large other findings that have been already published in specialized literature.
Keywords:
Health Innovation System; University-Organizations Collaboration; University Hospitals; Interaction Networks; Rio Grande do Sul