EVOLUTION OF BRAZIL'S INNOVATION PERFORMANCE: AN ANALYSIS OF POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS

"Innovation is a complex process that requires investments and efforts from economies and their companies. The Global Innovation Index (GII) is an important international reference for measuring innovation performance and innovation systems in an economy, guiding public policies. Literature highlights that the trend and current performance of innovation in Brazil are below expectations, despite recent advancements, and need to be improved. This research aims to investigate the factors and points that have significantly impacted Brazil's performance in the GII in recent years. The methodology will collect and select data for the research corpus longitudinally through Brazil's official annual data in the global innovation performance ranking (GII), which will be delimited in a time frame from 2020 to 2011 down to the level of its 7 pillars. In the most significant points, discrimination will be evidenced at the level of its sub-pillars, and in some cases, with a description of its indicators. Data analysis, investigation, and evaluation will be conducted using longitudinal survey techniques. Additionally, for reflections, the period from 2021 to 2022 will also be analyzed. Although Brazil has shown significant improvements in its GII performance since 2019, reaching the 54th position in 2022, which currently places it among the two most innovative economies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and in the group of 9 (nine) middle-to-high income economies with performance above expectations relative to their level of development. However, Brazil's continental size and large population, per se, represent proportional challenges for growth, especially concerning the GII, which, not by chance, places it in the 4th position in the BRICS group. The analysis of Brazil's GII measurements over 10 (ten) years showed the need for significant improvements in at least 4 (four) pillars, 10 (ten) sub-pillars, and 34 (thirty-four) indicators. This highlights, on one hand, that the country faces significant challenges in the pillars of "institutions," "market sophistication," and "creative outputs," which are weak points that negatively impact its innovation performance. On the other hand, it recommends measures to maintain success in the pillars of "infrastructure" and "business sophistication," which are strong points that positively impact its innovation performance. Furthermore, it is strategically perceived that adjustments and improvements in the "human capital & research" pillar, particularly in the sub-pillars of "Tertiary education (continuing education)" and "Education," will also be effective in improving Brazil's innovation performance. In conclusion, the study contributes to the understanding of the factors and points that influence innovation performance in Brazil and provides guidance to stakeholders involved, along with policymakers, in the innovation system and innovation-oriented public policies, focusing on improvement strategies to strengthen the relevant and significant points identified, creating a more conducive environment for innovation and improving the performance of the Brazilian economy."