Innovation in pharmaceutical sciences in Brazil: Factors associated with the total number of patents and patent licensing

PURPOSE: To analyze the frequency of innovation generation, measured by the total number of patents and associated factors, including patent licensing in graduate programs in pharmaceutical sciences (GPPS) in Brazil. This research is justified by the need to understand the gap between the country’s high scientific output and the limited conversion of this knowledge into technological innovation. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional documentary study was conducted based on data from 69 GPPS registered on the Sucupira Platform of the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) in 2024, representing 100% of the programs in this field in Brazil. Information on the scientific and technical production of researchers was collected from the Lattes Platform for the period 2014 to 2024, while data on the GPPS were obtained from the Sucupira Platform. FINDINGS: Most GPPS (40.6%) are located in the Southeast region of the country, and 68.1% did not license patents. Multiple linear regression was associated with 53.78% of the variability in the number of patents, identifying completed postdoctoral research, undergraduate research supervision, and the Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI) as significant predictors. The multiple correspondence analysis showed an association between patent licensing and higher scientific production, a greater number of faculty members, postdoctoral supervisions, GPPS offering both master’s and doctoral degrees, higher program quality, longer existence, and location in municipalities with higher MHDI. IMPLICATIONS: The results indicate that technological innovation in graduate programs depends on institutional maturity and territorial context. Additionally, they support strengthening National Technology Transfer Offices (NITs), incorporating innovation-related indicators into the evaluation of graduate programs, promoting university-industry collaboration, and adopting region-sensitive innovation policies to reduce territorial inequalities. ORIGINALITY & VALUE: This is the first Brazilian study to map the institutional and regional factors associated with technological innovation in GPPS within the country. Its results also contribute to the international literature on innovation system perspectives in middle-income countries, offering contributions applicable to regions facing similar challenges in translating academic research into technological and social transformation.