Patent bases as a source of technological information in the Engineering area I: evidence from brazilian specialists/Bases de patentes como fonte de informacao tecnologica na area de Engenharia I: evidencias de especialistas brasileiros/Las bases de patentes como fuente de informacion tecnologica en el area de la Ingenieria I: evidencia de especialistas brasilenos

Objective: to identify researchers' perception of knowledge about using technological information in patent databases as a source for developing academic research (scientific and technological). Method: This study surveyed 43 stricto sensu postgraduate programs in Brazil in the Engineering I area, Sanitary Engineering subarea of CAPES. Originality/Relevance: Much of the technological information available in the world appears only in patent documents, and the originality of this study consists of identifying the use of such information by researchers. Thus, showing the application of this knowledge in academic research can take them to another level of knowledge. Results: We identified that only 33% of researchers use patent bases as a source of technological information; more than 65% of searches focus on verifying the possibility of patenting. We found that such information is not applied in academic research, with ample space for disseminating and applying such knowledge. Social/Management Contributions: Expanding the use of technological information will enable academic production to use the most recent technology, products, or processes in the world. From a managerial point of view and the identification of the low use of patent bases, it was observed that there is a need to develop a method or tool that will make the use of patents more user-friendly as a source of technological information. Keywords: patents, survey, stricto sensu postgraduate studies, technological information, Engineering I Objetivo: identificar a percepcao do conhecimento dos pesquisadores sobre o uso das informacoes tecnologicas contidas em bases de patentes como uma fonte para desenvolvimento de pesquisas academicas (cientificas e/ou tecnologicas). Metodo: Este estudo realizou uma Survey junto aos 43 programas de Pos-Graduacao Stricto Sensu existentes no Brasil da area de Engenharias I, subarea Engenharia Sanitaria da Capes. Originalidade/Relevancia: Grande parte da informacao tecnologica disponivel no mundo consta apenas em documentos de patentes, a originalidade deste estudo consiste na identificacao do uso de tais informacoes pelos pesquisadores. Assim, evidenciar a aplicacao desse conhecimento em pesquisas academicas pode leva-las a outro nivel de conhecimento. Resultados: Identificamos que apenas 33% dos pesquisadores utilizam as bases de patentes como fonte de informacao tecnologica, onde mais de 65% das buscas foca na verificacao da possibilidade de patenteamento, consta