IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/joibpo/v6y2023i1d10.1057_s42214-022-00143-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Creating innovation capabilities for improving global health: Inventing technology for neglected tropical diseases in Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Paola Perez-Aleman

    (McGill University)

  • Tommaso Ferretti

    (University of Ottawa)

Abstract

Previous research on innovation capabilities in emerging economies shows knowledge networks tied to Western multinationals and national governments focused on economic growth. Less understood is the innovation capability building of emerging economies to achieve ‘good health’, an important Sustainable Development Goal. Here, we present a longitudinal study of a public research organization in an emerging economy and examine how it builds innovation capabilities for creating vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics for diseases primarily affecting the poor. We study FIOCRUZ in Brazil using archival, patent, and interview data about invention of technologies for neglected tropical diseases. We contribute novel insights into the evolution of knowledge networks, as national policy integrates innovation and health goals. We found significant diversification of local and foreign knowledge sources, and substantial creation of networks with public, private, and non-governmental organizations enabling collective invention. These R&D networks attract many multinationals to collaborate on socially driven innovation projects previously non-existent in their portfolios. The public research organization leads collaborations with multinationals and diverse partners, harnessing distributed international knowledge. Our results indicate emerging economies’ capabilities depend on elevating policies to increase health access for the poor to drive innovation and promoting local R&D to generate solutions to improve health.

Suggested Citation

  • Paola Perez-Aleman & Tommaso Ferretti, 2023. "Creating innovation capabilities for improving global health: Inventing technology for neglected tropical diseases in Brazil," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 84-114, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:joibpo:v:6:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s42214-022-00143-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s42214-022-00143-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s42214-022-00143-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s42214-022-00143-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Adoración Mozas-Moral & Enrique Bernal-Jurado & Domingo Fernández-Uclés & Miguel Jesús Medina-Viruel, 2020. "Innovation as the Backbone of Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Rory Horner, 2022. "Global value chains, import orientation, and the state: South Africa’s pharmaceutical industry," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 68-87, March.
    3. V. Muñoz & F. Visentin & D. Foray & P. Gaulé, 2015. "Can medical products be developed on a non-profit basis? Exploring product development partnerships for neglected diseases," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 42(3), pages 315-338.
    4. Joseph E. Stiglitz & Justin Yifu Lin (ed.), 2013. "The Industrial Policy Revolution I," International Economic Association Series, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-33517-3, December.
    5. Mariana Mazzucato, 2018. "Mission-oriented innovation policies: challenges and opportunities," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 27(5), pages 803-815.
    6. Ryan, Michael P., 2010. "Patent Incentives, Technology Markets, and Public-Private Bio-Medical Innovation Networks in Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 1082-1093, August.
    7. Samira Guennif & Shyama V. Ramani, 2012. "Explaining divergence in catching-up in pharmaceuticals between India and Brazil using the National System Innovation framework," Post-Print hal-01345868, HAL.
    8. Ari Van Assche & Kristin Brandl, . "Harnessing power within global value chains for sustainable development," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    9. Rafael A Corredoira & Gerald A McDermott, 2014. "Adaptation, bridging and firm upgrading: How non-market institutions and MNCs facilitate knowledge recombination in emerging markets," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(6), pages 699-722, August.
    10. Lema, Rasmus & Quadros, Ruy & Schmitz, Hubert, 2015. "Reorganising global value chains and building innovation capabilities in Brazil and India," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(7), pages 1376-1386.
    11. Paola Perez-Aleman & Flavia Chaves Alves, 2017. "Reinventing industrial policy at the frontier: catalysing learning and innovation in Brazil," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 10(1), pages 151-171.
    12. McMahon, Dominique & Thorsteinsdóttir, Halla, 2013. "Pursuing endogenous high-tech innovation in developing countries: A look at regenerative medicine innovation in Brazil, China and India," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 965-974.
    13. Jeffrey D. Sachs & Guido Schmidt-Traub & Mariana Mazzucato & Dirk Messner & Nebojsa Nakicenovic & Johan Rockström, 2019. "Six Transformations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(9), pages 805-814, September.
    14. Lee, Joosung J. & Yoon, Hyungseok, 2015. "A comparative study of technological learning and organizational capability development in complex products systems: Distinctive paths of three latecomers in military aircraft industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(7), pages 1296-1313.
    15. Marcelo Cano-Kollmann & John Cantwell & Thomas J Hannigan & Ram Mudambi & Jaeyong Song, 2016. "Knowledge connectivity: An agenda for innovation research in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(3), pages 255-262, April.
    16. Chataway, Joanna & Hanlin, Rebecca & Mugwagwa, Julius & Muraguri, Lois, 2010. "Global health social technologies: Reflections on evolving theories and landscapes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 1277-1288, December.
    17. Dani Rodrik, 2007. "Introductiion to One Economics, Many Recipes: Globalization, Institutions, and Economic Growth," Introductory Chapters, in: One Economics, Many Recipes: Globalization, Institutions, and Economic Growth, Princeton University Press.
    18. Pietrobelli, Carlo & Rabellotti, Roberta, 2011. "Global Value Chains Meet Innovation Systems: Are There Learning Opportunities for Developing Countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 1261-1269, July.
    19. Alexandre Guimarães Vasconcellos & Carlos Medicis Morel, 2012. "Enabling Policy Planning and Innovation Management through Patent Information and Co-Authorship Network Analyses: A Study of Tuberculosis in Brazil," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-10, October.
    20. Dantas, Eva & Bell, Martin, 2009. "Latecomer firms and the emergence and development of knowledge networks: The case of Petrobras in Brazil," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 829-844, June.
    21. Ronaldo Parente & Marne Melo & Daniel Andrews & Arun Kumaraswamy & Flavio Vasconcelos, 2021. "Public sector organizations and agricultural catch-up dilemma in emerging markets: The orchestrating role of Embrapa in Brazil," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(4), pages 646-670, June.
    22. Ram Mudambi, 2008. "Location, control and innovation in knowledge-intensive industries," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(5), pages 699-725, September.
    23. Arun Kumaraswamy & Ram Mudambi & Haritha Saranga & Arindam Tripathy, 2012. "Catch-up strategies in the Indian auto components industry: Domestic firms’ responses to market liberalization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(4), pages 368-395, May.
    24. Cimoli, Mario & Dosi, Giovanni & Stiglitz, Joseph E. (ed.), 2009. "Industrial Policy and Development: The Political Economy of Capabilities Accumulation," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199235278.
    25. Figueiredo, Paulo N. & Larsen, Henrik & Hansen, Ulrich E., 2020. "The role of interactive learning in innovation capability building in multinational subsidiaries: A micro-level study of biotechnology in Brazil," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(6).
    26. Franco Malerba & Richard Nelson, 2011. "Learning and catching up in different sectoral systems: evidence from six industries," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 20(6), pages 1645-1675, December.
    27. Tina C. Ambos & Katherine Tatarinov, 2022. "Building Responsible Innovation in International Organizations through Intrapreneurship," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(1), pages 92-125, January.
    28. Keld Laursen & Grazia D. Santangelo, 2017. "The role of “non-economic” endowments: introduction to the special section on what we know and what we should know about international knowledge sourcing," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 26(2), pages 279-284.
    29. Paola Perez-Aleman, 2005. "CLUSTER formation, institutions and learning: the emergence of clusters and development in Chile," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 14(4), pages 651-677, August.
    30. Maurice Cassier & Marilena Correa, 2003. "Patents, Innovation and Public Health: Brazilian Public-Sector Laboratories' Experience in Copying AIDS Drugs," Post-Print halshs-02162784, HAL.
    31. Peter J. Buckley & Roger Strange & Marcel P. Timmer & Gaaitzen J. de Vries, 2020. "Catching-up in the global factory: Analysis and policy implications," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(2), pages 79-106, June.
    32. Ivan Montiel & Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Junghoon Park & Raquel Antolín-López & Bryan W. Husted, 2021. "Implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(5), pages 999-1030, July.
    33. Gerald A McDermott & Rafael A Corredoira, 2010. "Network composition, collaborative ties, and upgrading in emerging-market firms: Lessons from the Argentine autoparts sector," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(2), pages 308-329, February.
    34. Valentina De Marchi & Elisa Giuliani & Roberta Rabellotti, 2018. "Do Global Value Chains Offer Developing Countries Learning and Innovation Opportunities?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(3), pages 389-407, July.
    35. Fuentes, Alberto & Pipkin, Seth, 2019. "Neither synthesis nor rivalry: Complementary policy models and technological learning in the Mexican and Brazilian petroleum and automotive industries," Business and Politics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(1), pages 113-144, March.
    36. Gerard George & Anita M. McGahan & Jaideep Prabhu, 2012. "Innovation for Inclusive Growth: Towards a Theoretical Framework and a Research Agenda," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(4), pages 661-683, June.
    37. Guennif, Samira & Ramani, Shyama V., 2012. "Explaining divergence in catching-up in pharma between India and Brazil using the NSI framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 430-441.
    38. Carlo Pietrobelli & Roberta Rabellotti & Ari Van Assche, 2021. "Making sense of global value chain-oriented policies: The trifecta of tasks, linkages, and firms," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(3), pages 327-346, September.
    39. Bernard Hoekman & Douglas R Nelson, 2018. "Reflecting on populism and the economics of globalization," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 1(1), pages 34-43, June.
    40. Morel, Carlos & Broun, Denis & Dangi, Ajit & Elias, Christopher & Gardner, Charles & Gupta, RK & Haycock, Jane & Heher, Tony Heher & Hotez, Peter Hotez & Juma, Calestous & Kettler, Hannah & Krattiger,, 2005. "Health Innovation Networks to Help Developing Countries Address Neglected Diseases," MPRA Paper 109906, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    41. Mazzoleni, Roberto & Nelson, Richard R., 2007. "Public research institutions and economic catch-up," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 1512-1528, December.
    42. Jaideep Anand & Gerald McDermott & Ram Mudambi & Rajneesh Narula, 2021. "Innovation in and from emerging economies: New insights and lessons for international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(4), pages 545-559, June.
    43. Pipkin, Seth & Fuentes, Alberto, 2017. "Spurred to Upgrade: A Review of Triggers and Consequences of Industrial Upgrading in the Global Value Chain Literature," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 536-554.
    44. Ramani, Shyama V. & Urias, Eduardo, 2018. "When access to drugs meets catch-up: Insights from the use of CL threats to improve access to ARV drugs in Brazil," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(8), pages 1538-1552.
    45. Bathelt, Harald & Li, Pengfei, 2020. "Processes of building cross-border knowledge pipelines," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(3).
    46. Sarianna Lundan & John Cantwell, 2020. "The local co-evolution of firms and governments in the Information Age," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(9), pages 1516-1528, December.
    47. Figueiredo, Paulo N. & Cohen, Marcela, 2019. "Explaining early entry into path-creation technological catch-up in the forestry and pulp industry: Evidence from Brazil," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(7), pages 1694-1713.
    48. Jan Anton van Zanten & Rob van Tulder, 2018. "Multinational enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals: An institutional approach to corporate engagement," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 1(3), pages 208-233, December.
    49. Paola Perez-Aleman, 2011. "Collective Learning in Global Diffusion: Spreading Quality Standards in a Developing Country Cluster," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(1), pages 173-189, February.
    50. Dieter Ernst & Linsu Kim, 2002. "Global Production Networks, Information Technology and Knowledge Diffusion," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(3), pages 147-153.
    51. Ernst, Dieter & Kim, Linsu, 2002. "Global production networks, knowledge diffusion, and local capability formation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(8-9), pages 1417-1429, December.
    52. Alexandre Guimarães Vasconcellos & Bruna de Paula Fonseca e Fonseca & Carlos Medicis Morel, 2018. "Revisiting the concept of Innovative Developing Countries (IDCs) for its relevance to health innovation and neglected tropical diseases and for the prevention and control of epidemics," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, July.
    53. Snehal Awate & Marcus M Larsen & Ram Mudambi, 2015. "Accessing vs sourcing knowledge: A comparative study of R&D internationalization between emerging and advanced economy firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(1), pages 63-86, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jaideep Anand & Gerald McDermott & Ram Mudambi & Rajneesh Narula, 2021. "Innovation in and from emerging economies: New insights and lessons for international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(4), pages 545-559, June.
    2. Liena Kano & Eric W. K. Tsang & Henry Wai-chung Yeung, 2020. "Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 577-622, June.
    3. Stephan Manning & Cristiano Richter, 2023. "Upgrading against the odds: How peripheral regions can attract global lead firms," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Shad Morris & James Oldroyd & Ryan T. Allen & Daniel Han Ming Chng & Jian Han, 2023. "From local modification to global innovation: How research units in emerging economies innovate for the world," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(3), pages 418-440, April.
    5. Soliman, Salma & Papanastassiou, Marina & Saka-Helmhout, Ayse, 2023. "The role of subsidiaries in Global Value Chains (GVCs): An institutional voids perspective on LVC upgrading and integration," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    6. Akçomak, Ibrahim Semih & Bürken, Serkan, 2019. "The middle-technology trap: The case of the automotive industry in Turkey," MERIT Working Papers 2019-006, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    7. Cuervo-Cazurra, Alvaro & Pananond, Pavida, 2023. "The rise of emerging market lead firms in global value chains," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Ronaldo Parente & Marne Melo & Daniel Andrews & Arun Kumaraswamy & Flavio Vasconcelos, 2021. "Public sector organizations and agricultural catch-up dilemma in emerging markets: The orchestrating role of Embrapa in Brazil," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(4), pages 646-670, June.
    9. Barnard, Helena, 2021. "Host countries' level of development and internationalization from emerging markets: A typology of firm strategies," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(3).
    10. Mukherjee, Debmalya & Kumar, Satish & Mukherjee, Deepraj & Goyal, Kirti, 2022. "Mapping five decades of international business and management research on India: A bibliometric analysis and future directions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 864-891.
    11. Fischer, Bruno Brandão & Schaeffer, Paola Rücker & Vonortas, Nicholas S., 2019. "Evolution of university-industry collaboration in Brazil from a technology upgrading perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 330-340.
    12. Pasquali, Giovanni & Krishnan, Aarti & Alford, Matthew, 2021. "Multichain strategies and economic upgrading in global value chains: Evidence from Kenyan horticulture," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    13. Andrea Coveri & Antonello Zanfei, 2023. "Who wins the race for knowledge-based competitiveness? Comparing European and North American FDI patterns," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 292-330, February.
    14. Godinho, Manuel Mira & Simões, Vítor Corado, 2023. "The Tech Cold War: What can we learn from the most dynamic patent classes?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(6).
    15. Ziliang Deng & Xufei Ma & Ziyan Zhu, 2022. "Transactional Dependence and Technological Upgrading in Global Value Chains," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 390-416, March.
    16. Ray, Sangeeta & Ray, Pradeep Kanta, 2021. "Innovation strategy of latecomer firms under tight appropriability regimes: The Indian pharmaceuticals industry," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    17. Marina Papanastassiou & Robert Pearce & Antonello Zanfei, 2020. "Changing perspectives on the internationalization of R&D and innovation by multinational enterprises: A review of the literature," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 623-664, June.
    18. Liena Kano, 2018. "Global value chain governance: A relational perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(6), pages 684-705, August.
    19. Islam, Mohammad Tarikul & Chadee, Doren, 2023. "Stuck at the bottom: Role of tacit and explicit knowledge on innovation of developing-country suppliers in global value chains," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    20. Pradeep Kanta Ray & Sangeeta Ray & Vikas Kumar, 2017. "Internationalization of latecomer firms from emerging economies—The role of resultant and autonomous learning," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 851-873, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:joibpo:v:6:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s42214-022-00143-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.