It has been widely discussed in Brazil that the production of biodiesel should look for ways for increasing competitiveness considering the balance among economic growth, environmental quality and social well-being through the rational use of resources. The main purpose of this paper is to identify structural dimensions influencing sustainability and competitiveness of the Brazilian biodiesel production chain and, thereby, contribute to the current debate as well as to the process of formulating policy and strategies regarding this important supply chain. As starting point, a number of publications were reviewed allowing the identification of main issues and its combination into relevant factors. Eventually, the factors were put together, resulting in a set of structural dimensions: biodiesel supply chain environment, institutional framework, market conditions, monitoring systems and technological innovation. Then, the structural dimensions were summarized in a conceptual model showing the relationship between them. The structural dimensions may be seen as critical points in which stakeholders would pay attention to ensure successful performance and sustainable competitiveness of the biodiesel production chain. The objective of the entire system is to deliver biodiesel as a clean energy with focus on social inclusion, mitigation of environmental impacts and viability.

The aim of this paper was to select the most interesting Brazilian biopharmaceuticals, with the best market opportunity for production. The biopharmaceuticals filgrastim, infliximab, somatropin, imiglucerase, betainterferon and factor VIII were selected because they are not produced in Brazil and thus could increase the technological capacity of domestic production. The use of a data mining tool facilitated the results achieved here, using the patents deposited in several banks worldwide as the source information. The prospects and trends of producing biopharmaceuticals in Brazil are of great interest to the country to establish a competitive industry and reduce the vulnerability of the National Health System, such as display windows of opportunity, showing the possibility of moving towards the production of biopharmaceuticals.

Technology roadmapping is a widely used technique in the industry for the development of long term planning strategies, making it possible to align market, product and technology over time. This article offers a brief review of this tool, covering the definitions of the terms technology roadmap and technology roadmapping, the types and formats of roadmaps, the structure of roadmaps, the processes of operation/adaptation of roadmapping, challenges and the key successful factors in implementing the roadmapping and its usage. Finally, an overview of public domain roadmaps is given, with special highlight to the ones related to Chemistry.

This article presents the new technological trends adopted by companies based in Brazil on the subject biorefinery that turns out to be a new way to produce chemicals and fuels in a similar way to oil refineries. The survey of information available in literature was obtained through a literature and documents. The results suggest that domestic firms are investing in new technology, especially from sugarcane, taking advantage of long experience in research, development and innovation in farming techniques acquired by tropical country.

This article discusses a survey on the technology of adhesives and sealants used in the construction sector, with scientific articles and patents as sources of information. The search for scientific articles was performed in the Science Direct database and for patents it was performed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office database. All the data were mined using “adhesive” and “sealant” as keywords.

Este artigo aborda um estudo de monitoramento informacional de adesivos e selantes aplicados ao setor de construção civil, usando como fontes de informação artigos científicos e patentes. No caso da busca por artigos, foi utilizada a base de dados Science Direct e no caso das patentes foi utilizada a base de dados do United States Patent and Trademark Office . Os dados foram obtidos empregando-se como palavras-chave “adhesive” e “sealant”.

O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar conceitos acerca das classificações industriais pertencentes à "Família Internacional de Classificações Econômicas e Sociais", que abrangem atividades econômicas, produtos, educação, etc.; e demonstrar, particularmente, como as classificações econômicas de atividades e de produtos são aplicadas à cadeia produtiva da indústria química. Para isto, foram selecionadas as principais classificações atividades e produtos pertencentes aos Sistemas de Informação Estatística dos países europeus e das Américas.

The present article aims at presenting concepts about industrial classifications of the "International Family of Economic and Social Classifications", which comprises economical activities, products, education, etc.; it also intends to demonstrate how the economical classifications of activities and products are applied, particularly, to the productive chain of the chemistry industry. For this, the main classifications of activities and products from the Systems of Statistical Information of European and American countries were selected.

Este artigo aborda um estudo de monitoramento tecnológico em biopolímeros aplicados em diversas áreas, usando como fontes de informações artigos científicos e patentes. Para tanto, foram utilizados, respectivamente, o programa Scifinder Scholar, que emprega as bases de dados CAPLUS e MEDLINE, e a base de dados americana de patentes, a USPTO. Os dados foram obtidos utilizando-se como palavras-chaves "biopolymers" e "biomaterials". Foram realizadas análises "macro", "meso" e "micro" em relação às principais universidades/centros de pesquisa, países de publicação, tipos de aplicações, principais biopolímeros mencionados, principais matérias-primas utilizadas e principais métodos de produção.

This paper reports a survey on the technology of biopolymers for various sector, using information extracted from scientific articles and patents. The Scifinder Scholar program based on the CAPLUS and MEDLINE databases and the USPTO databases were used as inputs, respectively. All the data were mined using biopolymers and biomaterials as keywords. The output of this research is a map of biopolymers' university/research centers, origin countries, types of biopolymers and its applications, major raw materials and production methods.

In this paper, we present a mathematical model based on the queuing theory that simulates the examination process in a patent office, including its relation with the applicants. Through this statistical model, this study aims at evaluating the examination effort distribution among all examination stages, in order to establish the optimal examination condition, which means that a patent application would be granted, denied or withdrawn in the shortest period of time and the backlog of patent offices would be reduced, meeting the society demand in a more efficient way. This study also aims at evaluating the performance of a specific patent examiner based on the optimal condition.

Neste trabalho foi feito um estudo de tendências tecnológicas em nanotecnologia aplicado ao setor de materiais poliméricos, com base em informações extraídas de documentos de patentes. Foi usada como fonte de dados o banco de patentes da USPTO (United States Patent Trademark Office). Os dados foram obtidos via web, utilizando-se diversas palavras-chaves Foram mapeados os principais países depositantes, tipo de depositante e ano de aplicação, setores de aplicação, tipos de polímeros utilizados e principais aditivos e cargas incorporados às matrizes poliméricas.

In this work a study of technological tendencies in nanotechnology applied to polymeric materials sector was carried out, based on information extracted of paten documents. The patent office of USPTO (United States Patent Trademark Office) was used as a data source. The data were supplied via web, using several keywords. A mapping was made of the major countries contributing, types and year of patent deposition, application sectors, polymer types used, main additives and fillers incorporated to the polymeric matrices.

O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar conceitos acerca das classificações industriais, mostrando-se a importância dos sistemas de classificações e a necessidade de correlação entre as classificações dos diferentes países. As classificações internacionais são baseadas na "Família Internacional de Classificações Econômicas e Sociais", que englobam atividades econômicas, produtos, consumo, educação, emprego, entre outras. Sua abrangência em relação às classificações de atividades e de produtos envolve as "classificações de referência (como a ISIC e a CPC), as classificações derivadas (como a NACE e a CPA) e as classificações relacionadas (como a ANZIC e a NAICS), cuja harmonização é realizada por gestores de classificação, como o INDEC, da Argentina, o INE, de Portugal, e o IBGE, do Brasil. As classificações de atividades e de produtos na economia constituem instrumento básico para obtenção de informações e análise dos dados estatísticos.

The objective of the present article is to present concepts related to industrial classification systems and to demonstrate both the importance of classification systems and the necessity of correlation between the classification systems in use in different countries. International classification is based on the "International Family of Economic and Social Classifications", which contains classifications of economic activities, products, consumption, education, employment and social factors, amongst others. The scope of the international family of economic and social classifications in relation to activities and products involves reference classifications, (such as the ISIC and the CPA), derived classifications (such as the NACE and the CPC), and related classifications (such as the ANZIC and the NAICS). The harmonization of these classifications is undertaken by organizations which specialize in classification management, such as INDEC in Argentina, INE in Portugal and IBGE in Brazil. This being the case, the classifications of economic activities and products constitute a basic tool for obtaining information and analyzing statistical.

Este artigo tem como objetivo principal proporcionar o conhecimento para a compreensão do impacto da indústria química na economia brasileira. Para tanto, utiliza-se como uma das ferramentas essenciais o Sistema de Contas Nacionais (SCN) do IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística), órgão federal produtor de estatísticas oficiais. Este sistema, através das suas Tabelas de Recursos e Usos, possibilita a geração de informações importantes para tomadas de decisões de empresas, governo e universidades/centros de pesquisa, através de uma visão econômica de produtos e atividades que fazem parte do sistema produtivo do país. No caso deste artigo, utiliza-se como exemplo o grupo das resinas, procurando-se demonstrar, seja pela ótica da oferta ou da demanda, o impacto destas na economia brasileira, através de alguns indicadores econômicos tais como: produção, consumo intermediário e importação.

This article is aimed at analysing the impact of chemical industries on the Brazilian economy. One of essential tools for doing that in the Sistema de Contas Nacionais (System of National Accounts) -- SCN of the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística -- IBGE, the official federal statistics agency. The Input and Out-Put Tables in this system make it possible to generate information that can support the decision-making processes of companies, governments and universities/research centers, through providing an economic view of products and activities that comprise the country's production system. In this article, RESINS are the subject of analysis. Their impact on the Brazilian economy will be demonstrated, both from a supply and demand viewpoint, using a number of economic indicators, such as production, intermediate consumption and imports.

O presente artigo fornece uma avaliação estratégica da tecnologia de produção de polímeros à base de etileno, principalmente o polietileno, bem como dos polímeros a base de propileno, principalmente o polipropileno, mostrando a tendência em relação a novos produtos, mercados e de concorrentes, com base em informações extraídas de documentos de patentes publicados a partir de 1990. O termo documento de patente abrange pedidos de patente publicados ou patentes concedidas. Da análise dos documentos de patente recuperados nesta pesquisa resultou uma visualização das tendência tecnológicas na indústria de poliolefinas nos mercados europeu e norte-americano, identificando e quantificando quatro indicadores tecnológicos: catalisadores, características da molécula, tipo de produto e campo de aplicação. Uma conclusão importante diz respeito à concentração de tecnologia, onde se observa que 6% das empresas com atividade em patenteamento detêm cerca de 40% do total de documentos, sendo que somente as quatro maiores depositárias dominam mais de 20% do total. Nota-se uma tendência de as empresas em buscar a inovação nas etapas finais da cadeia produtiva, com uma grande concentração de patentes em produtos e melhoria de aplicação.

This article offers a strategic assessment of the technology for the production of polymers based on ethylene and propylene (mainly polyethylene and polypropylene), demonstrating the trends related to new products, markets and competitors, based on information extracted from patent documents published since 1990. The term "patent document" covers published patent applications or granted patents. A vision of the technological trends in the polyolefin industry in Europe and North America has been elucidated based upon the analysis of the patent documents studied during this research, and four technological indicators were identified and quantified: catalysts, molecular attributes, product type and range of application. One important conclusion concerned the concentration of technology: 6% of the companies with patent activity hold around 40% of the total number of documents, while 20% of the total is controlled by just four depositing companies. A trend has been noticed whereby companies seek innovation at the final stages of the production chain, with a high concentration of patents being for products and improved applications.