| dc.description.abstract | The academic literature has highlighted important contributions of university-industry interaction for the innovative performance of firms, regions and countries. However, the literature also points to a number of determinants that relationship happen. Among these determinants, is pointed absorptive capacity of companies, that enables acquire, assimilate, transform and commercialize new knowledge gained from the relationship with universities. Given the need for greater assimilation, distribution and use of external knowledge relevant to business, this study sought to examine what are the characteristics of the absorptive capacity of firms that have interaction with universities. In this sense, this study analyzes characteristics and intensity of the absorptive capacity of firms that have interaction with the Engineering and Mechanics of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering University of Rio Grande do Sul. To achieve this goal, we developed a framework with indicators to measure the absorptive capacity. This structure was included in the questionnaire in a survey of businesses located within the directory of research groups from CNPq, referring to the 2010 census, indicating some interaction with those areas. For the analysis of the results were used statistical methods such as cluster analysis to group firms according to the similarity degree of absorptive capacity. The main results refer to the importance of absorptive capacity to achieve the objectives established in the university-industry interaction, as well as for its innovative performance. | en |
