Over the past 25 years, Paulo N. Figueiredo has implemented more than 20 original research projects in the field of technological capability-building and industrial innovation.

His research projects are mostly based on in-depth studies. These studies seek to explain relationships among issues related to the various processes of technological development in the context of developing/emerging economies.

Most of these studies, which usually cover relatively long time-periods, draw on empirical evidence gathered through extensive fieldwork at the level of firms and industries. He enjoys fieldwork!

In the field, he usually triangulates data sources and data collection techniques. He appreciates deep qualitative analyses, as well as the combination between qualitative and quantitative data analysis processes. These analyses processes usually involve intense discussions with his research partners and fieldwork participants.

Paulo’s research projects have contributed to advancing our understanding of the intricate processes by which firms and industries accumulate (or fail to accumulate) innovative technological capabilities and achieve (or fail to achieve) technological and industrial leadership.

His research has also contributed to generating practical recommendations for policy makers and industry stakeholders, relative to industrial innovation.

His research projects have been funded by international and Brazilian research funding organizations and the industry, through competitive selection processes.

Below, you will find a list of the main on-going and completed research projects undertaken by Paulo. The list includes the project’s title, his role in the project, the funding source, the project’s duration.

On-going research projects
Project:
Paths of accumulation of technological capability for production and innovative activities and their impacts on competitiveness: Firm-level empirical analysis in the pharmochemical industry in Brazil
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
Period:
2017 – 2019.
Project:
Low carbon industrial development and the role of firm-level technological innovation capabilities: An empirical analysis in resource-intensive industries in Brazil (2000-2017)
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
Period:
2017 – 2019.

Completed research projects
Research project:
Technological capability accumulation and industrial competitiveness in Brazil: Empirical analyses and recommendations for policy policies and firms’ strategies.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
Period:
2015 – 2016
Research project:
Global value chains and the development of local suppliers in the mining industry in Latin America.
Role:
Researcher.
Funding source:
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Washington, D.C.
Period:
2015 – 2016
Research project:
International research initiative on Brazil and Africa.
Role:
Researcher.
Funding source:
Department for International Development (DFID), UK.
Period:
2013 – 2015
Research project:
Accumulation of innovative capabilities, technological learning processes and institutional frameworks: Firm-level empirical analyses in natural resource-intensive industries in Brazil.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
Period:
2012 – 2014
Research project:
Accumulation of innovative capabilities, technological learning processes and institutional frameworks: Firm-level empirical analyses in natural resource-intensive industries in Brazil.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
Period:
2011 – 2013
Research project:
Innovation capability building, learning and institutional frameworks in Latin America’s natural resource processing industries: Experiences from Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
Period:
2009 – 2012
Research project:
Global Talent Index Project: Supply, demand and estimates of human resources for science and technology within the BRICS.
Role:
Project leader (Brazil Chapter) and researcher.
Funding source:
The State University of New York and the Lewin Institute, New York, NY.
Period:
2008 – 2009
Research project:
Clusters, employment, environment and competitiveness: A cross-continent study.
Role:
Project leader (Brazil Chapter) and researcher.
Funding source:
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Vienna.
Period:
2007 – 2008
Research project:
Technological capability accumulation, innovation, learning strategies and competitive performance: Industry- and firm-level evidence from the forestry, pulp and paper industries in Brazil
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Brazilian Association of Pulp and Paper Industry (Bracelpa).
Period:
2008 – 2011
Research project:
Innovative activities in the tourism industry in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Role:
Researcher.
Funding source:
The Carlos Chagas Foundation for Research Funding, State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ).
Period:
2008 – 2011
Research project:
Patterns of use of mobile phones by low income populations across eight Latin American countries.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
Nokia Siemens Networks R&D Centre, Finland.
Period:
2007
Research project:
Technological capability accumulation and innovative performance: Evidence from of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in Brazil (1996-2006).
Role:
Project leader (Brazil Chapter) and researcher.
Funding source:
The Brazilian Association of the Electro and Electronics Industry (Abinee).
Period:
2006 – 2007
Research project:
Technological capability accumulation, innovation, learning strategies and competitive performance: Firm-level evidence from the forestry, pulp and paper industries in Brazil.
Role:
Project leader (Brazil Chapter) and researcher.
Funding source:
The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Brazilian Association of Pulp and Paper Industry (Bracelpa).
Period:
2005 – 2008
Research project:
Potentialities and limitations of the natural products industry in Belém, Pará (Northern Brazil)
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Brazilian Micro and Small Enterprises’ Support Service (SEBRAE).
Period:
2004 – 2005
Research project:
Innovative technological capability development in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in Brazil: Evidence from a sample of R&D organisations.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Nokia Institute of Technology.
Period:
2004 – 2005
Research project:
Expansion of the software industry in Brazil and the potentialities and limitations of sampled Brazilian cities to attract and host research and development (R&D) activities.
Funding source:
The Nokia Institute of Technology, Brazil and Finland.
Period:
2004
Research project:
Implications of technological infrastructures for firm-level technological capability development and competitiveness in consumer electronics, motorcycles and bicycles industries and their main suppliers in the Industrial Pole of Manaus, Northern Brazil.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Ministry of Development Industry and Foreign Trade, Brazilian Federal Government.
Period:
2002 – 2003
Research project:
Learning processes and technological capability accumulation in the car parts industry in Curitiba, Paraná (Southern Brazil).
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Association of Metalwork and Electric Materials of the State of Paraná.
Period:
2002 – 2003
Research project:
Internationalisation of innovative capability: Counter-evidence from the electronics industry in Malaysia and Brazil.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
Research Programme on Technological Learning and Industrial Development in Brazil.
Period:
2002 – 2003
Research project:
Industrial policy changes and firm-level technological capability development: Evidence from the consumer electronics, motorcycles, and bicycles industries and their main suppliers in the Industrial Pole of Manaus, Northern Brazil.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Ministry of Development Industry and Foreign Trade, Brazilian Federal Government.
Period:
1999 – 2001; 2002 – 2004.
Research project:
Learning processes, capability accumulation, and inter-firm differences: Evidence from latecomer steel.
Role:
Project leader and researcher.
Funding source:
The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).
Period:
1995 – 2000
Research project:
Privatization process, human resource development and competitiveness: Evidence from the petrochemical industry in Brazil
Role:
Researcher.
Funding source:
International Labour Organisation (ILO), Genève.
Period:
1994 – 1995
Research project:
Technology and productivity within a set of organisations in Brazil.
Role:
Researcher.
Funding source:
The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).
Period:
1992 – 1994