The study analyses the technological development performed by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística - IBGE. It focuses on the demographic census from its origins until the year 2000 census. Its main theoretical basis is the technological accumulation (BELL, PAVITT, 1993) associated with dynamic competencies (TEECE; PISANO; SCHUEN, 1990) and innovation and learning theories (G.DOSI, 1988). The empirical basis uses the analytical structure of learning and technological-capability paths (FIGUEIREDO, 2001) to classify the innovation and knowledge socialization resources and its effects on the organizations processes. The data were collected through examining documents and making interviews in the boards of technical directors of IBGE in 2002. The study demonstrates that IBGE has evolved over 50 years from a basic degree of technological experimentation - assimi-lated from the developed countries - into an international advanced level of technological competence which was exported in 2000. Finally, this study considers that government institutions' non-integrated understanding tends to establish restricted circles of specialists and not optimizing the use of low depreciated technologies.
technological competencies; Figueiredo; IBGE; demographic census
