Inovação aberta no setor público: um estudo no contexto de um órgão estadual de controle externo

Abstract

Innovation strategies have adopted more open approaches, in which external sources and collaborations play a critical role, with repercussions on improving the performance of organizations. In the public sector, especially in countries with emerging economies, open innovation practices are still in their early stages, despite their potential to improve the initiatives of public managers, in terms of improving the efficiency of services and meeting the needs of the population, with added value in terms of public benefit. In line with this context, this research has the general objective of investigating how open innovation occurs in the context of an external control body of the state public sphere. This is a qualitative and descriptive research, carried out through a single case study. The primary data collection was carried out through interviews with managers and employees in the areas of management and innovation. The secondary data came from documentary research. The data analysis was performed using the content analysis technique, with the aid of the MAXQDA software. In line with the specific objectives, it was found that, with regard to open innovation actions, innovation competitions are held, initiatives to open up to society are promoted to solve internal problems, workshops, meetings and training are held. The inbound and outbound open innovation processes are established by legal instruments that include confidentiality and data protection clauses and govern all forms of relationships between the parties involved. In the case of coupled, semi-coupled and co-creation open innovation processes, universities are strong partners in the development of solutions and technologies that bring novelties or that present alternatives for improving something that already exists, mainly because research and development activities are strengthened in the institution and financed by research funding and support agencies in the state. As a result, the products, services and technologies developed are managed via legal instruments in order to minimize risks and ensure that intellectual property is administered safely, and the fruits of patenting, licensing and assignment of use are returned to the Court of Auditors of the State of Ceará for new research and investment in human intellectual capital. Thus, the effects of all efforts in each phase of open innovation and in all its repercussions aim to improve the end activities, which consequently result in measures to protect the rights of each citizen and strengthen trust in public institutions.