The Evolution of the Knowledge Accumulation Function in the Formation of the Brazilian Biofuels Innovation System

The conceptual and empirical analysis of function dynamics in innovation systems has been mostly concentrated on the experiences of developed countries. Additional research is necessary to examine the formation of technological innovation systems, specially 'new-to-the-world' innovation systems in late industrialising contexts, specifically how the knowledge accumulation function evolves. This paper is concerned with those issues: the formation of a 'new-to-the-world' technological innovation system in a late industrialising context, namely the Brazilian biofuels innovation system. It focuses, in particular, on the evolution of the knowledge accumulation function in the formation of such innovation system from 1975 to the present.