INOVA O E PRODU O: ANáLISE CONCEITUAL E EMPíRICA DO CASO PAVIMENTA O COM ASFALTO

The paper aims to verify the existence of a sectoral system of innovation and production in roadbuilding in Brazil, identifying dysfunctions or gaps, and proposing solutions for its appropriate structuring.The road building paving is a key activity for the growth and competitiveness of Brazil. The analysis issupported by the concept of innovation systems. The “case study” was the main way of researching hereused, complemented by the European ESSY-Project method, suitable for sectoral studies. The results relatedto the following aspects are presented: [1] knowledge and learning process; [2] its companies (firms), nobusinessorganizations, networks and institutions; [3] long term sectoral dynamics and (co)evolution; [4]public policies; [5] geographical frontiers; [6] and international performance. The research indicated a set ofchallenges for the road engineers as for the managers ahead the road system: the paving roads share reachedby the Country is very modest; there is excessive traffic and overloading on the pavements; and evidences ofstandards that induce to calculate the pavements above the necessary resistance to support the applied levelof charges in the Brazilian roads. It was also verified that coexist: the current positive effects of the policiesand actions applied in the scientific, technological and education areas, generating learning and innovations,as well as introduction of innovations by the firms; and the weakness effects on the public departmentsahead the roads, limiting to take advantage from the innovation opportunities.