| dc.description.abstract | The interactions between universities and businesses constitute a theme of increasing interest. The process of continuous changes to what the companies undergo require, from the players, new ways to act in order to guarantee their competitive status, and universities have become important partners, mostly in Brazil where there is no tradition for companies to invest in their own research and development areas. Taking into account that the aim of this work was to analyze how the UGDT (Technological Development and Management Units), proposed by universities, have promoted the interaction with businesses. The methodology used was qualitative and exploratory. A study of multiple cases in two universities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS – Rio Grande do Sul Federal University – and PUCRS – Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul – was conducted. Thorough interviews and secondary data collection with representatives of these two universities, of the UGDTs, as well as with partner companies appointed by th | en |
