Caxias do Sul technology incubator: technological innovation through the triple Helix/Incubadora tecnologica de Caxias do Sul: inovacao tecnologica sob a perspectiva da Helice triplice

The aim of this study was to identify how the Triple Helix concept is applied in the activities of the Caxias do Sul Society of Technology Incubation. To achieve this goal, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted at ITEC, the University of Caxias do Sul, Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Services of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul City Hall and Comlink Electronic Equipments, one of the companies that was successfully incubated. Content analysis of the results showed that the agents act mainly through the provision of financial resources. Furthermore, the main benefits obtained by the University from this relationship are the return on investment in the form of registered patents, attracting new students and recognition as a technological, entrepreneurial and innovative university. Theperceived benefitsfor the industrial sector are training and developmentfor businesses and entrepreneurs, while the municipal government perceives the reduced number of businesses failing and the financial returns, in the form of taxes, as benefits. The findings show that the Triple Helix concept developed by Etzkowitz (2009) plays a cooperative and participatory role in the Technology Incubator, even though it could be applied to more segments of society. Keywords: technological innovation; Triple Helix; business incubators. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar como o conceito da Helice Triplice esta aplicado nas atividades da Sociedade Incubadora Tecnologica de Caxias do Sul. Para atingir este objetivo, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas em profundidade com a ITEC, a Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Camara da Industria, Comercio e Servicos de Caxias do Sul, Prefeitura de Caxias do Sul e Comlink Equipamentos Eletronicos, uma das empresas que obteve exito na incubacao. A analise do conteudo dos resultados mostrou que a atuacao dos agentes se da, principalmente, por meio de recursos financeiros. Ja os principais beneficios obtidos pela Universidade com base nessa relacao sao o retorno do investimento realizado sob a forma de patentes formalizadas, conquista de novos alunos e reconhecimento como uma Universidade tecnologica, empreendedora e inovadora. Os beneficios percebidos pelo setor industrial sao a capacitacao das empresas e empreendedores, enquanto o Poder Publico Municipal percebe como beneficios a reducao na mortalidade das empresas e a geracao de retorno financeiro sob a forma de impostos. As conclusoes mostram que o conceito da Helice Triplice, dese