Analysis of technological production in biotechnology in northeast Brazil

The aim of the article was to analyze the technological production in Biotechnology in the northeast of Brazil between 1983 and 2012. Data were collected from the analysis of patent applications submitted by professors affiliated to graduate programs in Biotechnology in the region. The research sources were as follows: institutional websites of the northeastern graduate programs, patent bank of the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and the Lattes platform maintained by the National Research Council (CNPq). A total of 191 patent applications submitted by researchers residing in the region were identified. Data were analyzed using bibliometrics. The results point to a growing trend in the technological production of biotechnology in the region, with universities and research institutes accounting for the largest number of applications. There was also intense cooperation with public universities in the southern and southeast regions.