Data INOVA report: report on the first institutional innovation Survey at UFPel - Data INOVA

Abstract

The Federal University of Pelotas has been working to implement innovation and internationalization as strategic pillars, alongside teaching, research, and outreach. With the creation of the Superintendency of Innovation and Interinstitutional Development in 2021, a series of initiatives have been launched to democratize opportunities for engagement with the productive sector, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and technology transfer. Recently, the university was recognized as the leading patent applicant in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with other important achievements also noted in its interaction with the productive sector. However, in most cases, the same individuals and courses are responsible for these outcomes. This suggests that the university community’s knowledge about innovation remains highly concentrated and does not extend to the approximately 20,000 people who are part of the institution. A structural communication challenge also persists: UFPel does not have a centralized campus. It operates across more than a hundred buildings scattered throughout the cities of Pelotas and Capão do Leão. In this context, although all programs and departments have innovation potential, it is essential that knowledge on the subject be broadly disseminated. Given limited financial resources, the strategy chosen was to create this institutional innovation survey, allowing the entire university community — including external participants — to engage. Beyond collecting data on awareness about innovation and identifying knowledge gaps, the survey was designed to spotlight the theme and foster a more democratic approach to innovation within the university. Data INOVA is fundamental to institutional planning and decision-making, highlighting needs, opportunities, and gaps while guiding specific actions for academic and administrative units. It also supports various audiences within the university and its external community. Based on the results, immediate action plans will be proposed. This initiative represents a paradigm shift at UFPel, positioning the academic community as active participants in university planning and reaffirming the institution's commitment to innovation and to the active engagement of its members in the development process. (Vinicius Farias Campos)