Editorial

Abstract

Open innovation proved to be fundamental in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and in the world, further strengthening the idea of ​​the triple helix and, if we look more closely, the quintuple helix. When reviewing the editorials of previous issues of the magazine, we came across all the elements present in these concepts, from the performance of the three helixes: government, university and industry, to the acceptance of society and the impact on the environment, to compose the five facets of this intertwined system of innovation. Thus, we had an extensive discussion about the National Innovation Policy and the need for investments in science and technology, about the performance of professionals and companies in the fight against the new coronavirus, as well as about the strong performance of academia, with the magazine itself being a vector of contribution, through the dissemination of knowledge. It is also necessary to consider aspects related to society and the environment, strongly brought up in several articles. Regarding prevention, when analyzing the vaccines against COVID-19 in development and registered with the World Health Organization, we can observe that there are 185 vaccines in the pre-clinical phase and 114 in clinical trials, with 24 in phase 3 and eight vaccines in the phase 4. In Brazil, we have two vaccines with registration granted by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and two vaccines with emergency use granted, in addition to the vaccines that make up the Covax Facility Consortium. Vaccines in use in Brazil involve different technologies, from the use of inactivated viruses, non-replicating viral vector and messenger RNA. As an example of open innovation, we highlight the vaccine developed at the University of Oxford and commercialized through a spinout, Vaccitech, located in the University's Technology Park and holder of the technology's intellectual property. This technology was licensed to AstraZeneca by Oxford University Innovation. In Brazil, a technology transfer agreement was signed between AstraZeneca UK Limited and Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/Institute of Technology in Immunobiologicals/Fiocruz. In other words, the elements of open innovation are perfectly represented, highlighting the knowledge generated in the academy and the partnerships made until the product reaches society. When attending the lecture given at the Fortec Meeting by Fiocruz researcher Beatriz de Castro Fialho, the importance of technological prospecting for the choice of the cited immunizer became evident, a subject that is heavily explored by the magazine. Within this context, the importance of Fortec is highlighted as an entity that drives open innovation, by providing an environment of interaction and incentive for the generation and transfer of technology, with emphasis on the Profnit professional master's degree, which trains staff of excellence to operate in the most diverse innovative environments. Continuing to contribute to the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge, this edition of Cadernos de Prospecção brings together 22 articles by 66 authors representing 20 Brazilian organizations from 12 Federation Units located in four regions of Brazil and the Federal District. We wish you all an excellent read!