The increase of research and development equipment costs and the need of updating specialized staff has been the main reason for the cease of several industrial R&D laboratories. As R&D is essential for new products in a very competitive market, several industry-university cooperative research centers have been created in the developed countries. In Brazil the first center created by the government is located at the Federal University of São Carlos: the Center for Characterization and Development of Materials - CCDM, a US$ 5 millions project. The main difference among CCDM and the existing R&D centers in Brazil is that the CCDM is a non-profitable institution, has to be selfsupported and provides services to the industries, universities and research centers. This paper will present the experience of this first center in Brazil. The continued growth and success of this outsourcing center should lead to considerable progress in research and development in the field of Materials Science and Engineering.
R& D Management; Outsourcing; Services; University-Industry Relationship