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The Potential of Nanotechnology for Equitable Economic Development: The Case of Brazil

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Book cover Nanotechnology and the Challenges of Equity, Equality and Development

Part of the book series: Yearbook of Nanotechnology in Society ((YNTS,volume 2))

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Abstract

Luciano Kay and Philip Shapira take a more detailed look at the consequences of Brazilian nanotechnology, using publication and patent data. Brazil is the powerhouse of Latin America in terms of research output in nanotechnology, and national policy tries hard to link that output to innovation outcomes. However, as with most Brazilian science, the regional distribution is highly uneven, and nanotechnology shows no signs of equalizing it. Kay and Shapira examine Brazil’s performance on four criteria of equitable economic development: agenda setting; R&D investment; R&D outcomes; and risk awareness and allocation.

This chapter was peer reviewed. It was originally presented at the Workshop on Nanotechnology, Equity, and Equality at Arizona State University on November 22, 2008.

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Acknowledgements

This study uses data from the large-scale global nanotechnology publication and patent datasets developed by the group on Nanotechnology Research and Innovation Systems at Georgia Institute of Technology – a component of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS-ASU). Support for the research was provided through CNS-ASU with sponsorship from the National Science Foundation (Award No. 0531194). The findings and observations contained in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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Kay, L., Shapira, P. (2010). The Potential of Nanotechnology for Equitable Economic Development: The Case of Brazil. In: Cozzens, S., Wetmore, J. (eds) Nanotechnology and the Challenges of Equity, Equality and Development. Yearbook of Nanotechnology in Society, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9615-9_19

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