ABSTRACT This research analyzed actors’ interactions in the Northeast Biotechnology Network (in Portuguese, RENORBIO), based on the study of their profile of scientific and technological production. RENORBIO is a pioneer in the Northeast region, since the creation of the Graduate Program in Biotechnology. Data collection consisted in searching information on bibliographic production (articles, books, and reports), technical production (patents), and spin-off records from research carried out in the 13 focal points. These represent the coordinations located in the main education and research institutions accredited in the Network, which comprise around 30 other institutions associated to RENORBIO, to identify the interactions between the network’s agents. To analyze the results, we processed data by using the UCINET software. The software was essential for studying the interactions among network agents, assisting to characterize technical and academic interactions within RENORBIO, based on the analysis of its actions of Technology Transfer; this allowed profiling this network in the light of the Theory of Social Networks. We identified that the Network has a ‘satellite’ topology, where a central network attracts and influences the research relationships between the actors of the other networks, which gravitate around it, creating a force of institutional attraction between them. It is a heterogeneous network, characterized by low density and wide flow of diverse interactions of its actors. In addition, it shows a strong representation of the innovations produced in the Northeast region, capable to affect directly or indirectly the socioeconomic condition of this region, and bring solutions for national problems in the area of biotechnology.

Resumo: Este artigo analisa a trajetória tecnológica do cultivo de camarão no Nordeste brasileiro e suas implicações ou limitações para a adoção de inovações sustentáveis ambientalmente. Desse modo, uma abrangente pesquisa empírica foi realizada, usando dados secundários e entrevistas semiestruturadas com vários agentes envolvidos no cultivo do camarão. Assim, foi possível identificar o perfil desse setor de atividade com base em sua trajetória de desenvolvimento desde o início de sua produção no Brasil. Os principais resultados do estudo apontam que a trajetória tecnológica dessa indústria revelou limitações, mas, também, algumas oportunidades para a geração de inovações sustentáveis, especialmente no estágio atual.

Abstract: This paper analyzes the technological route of shrimp farming in Northeast Brazil and their implications or limitations for the adoption of environmentally sustainable innovations. Thus, an extensive empirical research was performed, using secondary data and semi-structured interviews with various agents involved in shrimp farming industry. Therefore, it was possible to identify the profile of this activity based on its development trajectory since the beginning of its production in Brazil. The main results of this study indicate that the technological path of this industry revealed limitations, but also some opportunities for the generation of sustainable innovation, especially at the current stage.

O artigo faz uma análise da forma de inserção da carcinicultura do Nordeste, em particular dos Arranjos Produtivos Locais - APLs de cultivo de camarão do estado do Ceará, em cadeias globais de produção, bem como sua estrutura de governança. Isto porque os sistemas de cultivo destes crustáceos se concentram no Nordeste, sendo, na atualidade, o Ceará o maior produtor do Brasil na forma cultivado, expressando, ao longo de suas bacias hidrográficas, dois APLs bem característicos (litorais leste e oeste), que estiveram intensamente inseridos em mercado internacional por meio de cadeias globais de produção. O estudo teve por base um levantamento de dados secundários e entrevistas junto aos gestores e proprietários das empresas e outros agentes dos APLs. As principais evidências da pesquisa apontam que a inserção das empresas dos APLs ainda ocorre de forma dependente dos grandes compradores internacionais e os benefícios gerados, em grande parte, são apropriados fora da esfera produtiva, influenciando as capacitações produtivas e inovativas dos produtores locais. A estrutura de coordenação é verticalizada, demonstrado certo grau de assimetria nas relações de poder entre diferentes segmentos de agentes, sendo os principais estágios da cadeia de valor, em parte, controlados por agentes externos aos arranjos.

The article makes an analysis of the way of insertion of the shrimp culture in the Northeast Brazil, in particular Local Productive Arrangements (LPA) of shrimp cultivation in the Ceará State, in global production chains and its governance structure because the cultivation systems of these cretaceous are concentrated in the Northeast, and, currently, Ceará is the largest producer of cultured shrimp from Brazil and presents along of its water parting there are two characteristic LPAs (east coast and west coast) that were strongly inserted in the international market through global production chains. The study was based on a survey of secondary data and interviews with the companies' managers, owners and other LPAs' agents. Main findings of the research show that the insertion of LPAs of companies still happens quite dependent on large international buyers, and the benefits generated, in large part, are appropriated out of the productive sphere, influencing the productive and innovative capabilities of local producers. The coordination structure is vertical, with some asymmetry degree in power relations between different segments of agents, being the main stages of the value chain controlled, in part, by external agents to arrangements.