University and the Local Development in Goiás – Brazil

This paper discusses the relationship between the University, the Government and the local company in an economic development in Goiás, Brazil, in the context of productive restructuring and innovation. The object of study is the University since it is the locus of knowledge production and this is an important resource to the development and to the wealth of a State. This study is justified by the creation of State University of Goiás (UEG) by the local govern to expand access to higher education. This actor possibly performs bureaucratic capacity and empowerment of the State. So, this study aims to investigate the State University of Goiás (UEG) which is located in 42 cities around the state and the theoretical reference discuss the interaction between University, company and Government based on the “Triple Helix” model, which proposes to improve conditions for innovation in a knowledge-based society. The question is what is the University (UEG) interaction with local development, particularly local businesses and how its actions have caused impacts and results in the State of Goiás? For this, it seeks to know the type of structure of the model of entrepreneurial University, which is a process driven internally (from inside out), by cultural and infrastructure changes. The research methodology is qualitative and descriptive which refers to the review of the literature and documentary research of the theoretical content to support the discussion of the object. This is also a case study from UEG and theoretical reference are the evolutionary theories and, in the specific institutionalism approach of triple helix, applied to the study on the role of University in local development. This ongoing research reveals that the role of the University has been transformed by required training, employee training, technological infrastructure which has the challenge of the generation and the transfer of knowledge, innovation and technology through interaction and research for economic actors.