Directrices para la protección del conocimiento: un caso de estudio en una universidad del Estado de Paraná

Introduction: Innovation derived from scientific knowledge is possible when it is protected by intellectual property instruments such as the patent. The act of patenting knowledge ensures the rights of the stakeholders against misappropriation, enables the secure sharing, and contributes to technological development. Thus, it is essential to have guidelines in order to guide the protection of knowledge aiming at innovation. These instructions must encompass aspects related to confidentiality, rights and financial participation for those involved in this process. Within this scope, this study aims to determine the guidelines which regulate the protection of knowledge at an university in the State of Paraná, favoring the emergence of innovations in the academic environment. Method: A documentary research was carried out at the first stage which enabled the analysis of legal rules containing the protocols for protection of knowledge in the University. At the second one, it was possible to gather considerations of existing legal rules for protection of knowledge through interviews with researchers and managers of an Innovation Agency, covering regulatory issues and the visibility of the document in that environment. A content analysis technique was used for treating the collected information. Results: The guidelines for knowledge protection existing in the organization focus primarily on the participation of inventors in financial gains. Other important aspects of intellectual property, such as confidentiality, the pursuit of technological information, confidentiality agreements, normalization referring to the publication, and patenting are not included in the guidelines for protection of knowledge for this institution. Conclusion: It is concluded that possibly the absence of such guidelines collaborate with the lack of awareness of researchers for protection of knowledge and innovation, which is visible in the studied environment. Researchers are also lacking conditions and information which characterize and support a culture focused on the innovative process.