This paper presents a proposal of a program for the development of the Brazilian National Innovation System for Medical Products (SNIPM) under the National Health System (SUS) integrated and aligned with the actions of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Clinical engineering knowledge and tools allowed performing a differentiated socio-economic analysis of the sector, the systematization and the perception of actors and factors that induce or retard the growth of the technology sector. In this article, the medical devices sector in Brazil was first contextualized to in the light of current national and global socio-economic conjuncture, in order to characterize it as a major inducer of innovative activities. The definitions and theories about the National Innovation Systems are described, followed by a discussion of the specifics of SNIPM in Brazil, with its actors, including their duties and responsibilities. The methodology for the collection and analysis of economic data, were shown, in order to characterize the importance of this sector to the national economy and its potential to induce the rising of innovative technologies whithin the SNIPM. The analysis of industry data is presented, which attempts to present and comment on some industry data collected during a survey. In the Results section, it is presented the design of a program used to to catalyze the development of the SNIPM considering the technological demands and priorities of the SUS and the target markets of the productive sector. The proposed program, which was developed and implemented within the Brazilian Ministry of Health, can become one of the tools within the SUS to strengthen and modernize the sector of medical equipments and materials, aiming to increase the innovative capacity of firms and change its competitive standing.
National innovation system; Clinical engineering; Medical devices; Medical equipment; Health industrial complex; Health economics
