S&T NETWORK IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF NEO-INSTITUTIONAL THEORY: THE INSTITUTO AGRONÔMICO DO PARANÁ (IAPAR) ANALYSIS

Abstract

In the last two decades, the organization of Science and Technology (S&T) activities has gone through significant changes, which contributed for the need of research institutions to adapt and adopt new configurations, mainly the ones related to the process of developing their projects. Among the configurations used by the institutions, the S&T network formation is outstanding. This work aims at understanding how the reference institutional environment directed the IAPAR (Instituto Agronômico do Paraná) to incorporate the configurations of S&T network in managing its research projects. Thus, the subjective environment concept was used, based on neo Institutional Theory. Regarding methodology, the research was qualitative, descriptive and sectional with a longitudinal perspective and was carried out by a case study.  The research data had been collected of primary and secondary form. The analysis of the interviews showed that there have always been the S&T networks at IAPAR, however, throughout the years the adoption of the aforesaid configuration was influenced by diverse factors and isomorphic mechanisms, making the Institute adapt itself to obtain legitimation of its activities and to increase its survival capacity.