Innovation policy for the mining sector in Brazil: a comparative analysis with Sweden centered on the interactions of involved agents

Abstract This article examines the innovation policy for the mining sector in Brazil. The specific objectives are to characterize the innovation policy for the sector; identify the priorities of each agent (university, industry, and government) for policy formulation and execution, and to verify, in their perception, the challenges for improvement of the mining policy. The research adopts a qualitative approach, using the Triple Helix model of innovation as the theoretical background. The Brazilian case is analyzed using Sweden as a benchmark. Relevant strategic documents were collected and 18 interviews were conducted in Brazil and Sweden. The agents perceive the innovation policy in Brazil as something ephemeral, reactive and lacking in structure. The comparison between the Swedish and the Brazilian innovation agenda for the sector reveals that the Swedish is much broader, including technological and non-technological innovations. The Swedish agenda emphasizes the need to go beyond a strictly economic concern (business competitiveness and industrial policy) in the mining sector. Swedes highlight not only the environmental dimension but also the social dimension when proposing “socially sustainable mining regions.” In both Brazil and Sweden, the low social acceptance of mining and the lack of long-term continuity of innovation policies are important challenges to be overcome.