Practical Use of Competitive

Technical Intelligence:
Biodegradable Polymers Research
Groups and Opportunities in Brazil
Adriana R. Martin, Pedro C. Oprime, Wanda A. M. Hoffmann, Leandro I. L. Faria,
and José A. R. Gregolin, Núcleo de Informação Tecnológica em Materiais

With the globalization of the world economy, rapid can be defined as those that undergo degradation by a
advance of technology, and rising customer expectations, combination of living organisms action with environment-
the ability to manage change has become a prerequisite derived reactions such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and photo-
for staying competitive. Globalization impels businesses to degradation (Amass 1998, Bordes 2009, Scott 2000). The
research new products, new markets, and new technologies increasing demand for environmental sustainability and
(Chaves 2000). Emerging electronic information facilities preservation enhances the role of biodegradable materials
and systems have highlighted the value information has and their new developments and applications as important
to increase competitiveness, and the disciplines dealing competitive factors for the many sectors that depend on or
with information production and management (such are related to those materials (Kalia 2000, Raizada 2002,
as technological forecasting and competitive technical Zhao 2008).
intelligence) have expanded the activities for identifying Biodegradable polymers have offered solutions
technology-based threats and opportunities, as well as and new widespread applications competitive in costs,
strength and weakness (Coates 2000, Watts 1998). including for waste disposal problems of petroleum and
Monitoring the technological environment is especially traditional plastics (waste packaging, wound dressing),
important for companies, academic groups, and government biomedical (biocompatibility, drug delivery, surgical
agencies dealing with science-intensive technologies, such as implants), agricultural (controlled release of fertilizers and
pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, nanotechnology, pesticides), and automotive industry and parts, as well as
materials, electronics, and others. The combination of access in the field of surfactants photodegradation (Amass 1998,
to vast information collections and strategic interests directs Scott 2000, Mohanty 2000, Hutmacher 2001, Petersson
attention to the need for new tools that analyze information 2007, Sorrentino 2007).
and process it into knowledge. Knowledge has always been Nowadays, biodegradable polymers constitute an
important throughout history for achieving competitive emergent knowledge field spread among many economic
advantage. The information revolution implies a radical and activities. Companies and academic research groups have
irreversible transformation of existing structures, concepts shown particular interest in developing new technologies
and practices in the business world (Chaves 2000, Watts related to these polymers and in taking advantage of
1998). existing technologies to start and support new businesses.
In this context, biodegradable polymers is an In this context, developing new methods to transform
interdisciplinary field of knowledge with wide innovation information related to these polymers on knowledge that
and business opportunities, and is intensely dependent supports decision-makers in new businesses becomes very
on technology and information. Biodegradable polymers important.

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practical use of competitive technical intelligence

This article reports on the development and

application of an analytical framework for technological Sidebar 2: Secondary Information
information that can support company management Sources
decisions concerning technology acquisition, development,
partnership and other related actions with respect to Register of Brazilian Researchers
biodegradable polymers technology in Brazilian research • CNPq – Directory of Researchers and Research
groups and emerging companies (called groups in this Groups in Brazil – [Link]
article). The expected results included: Scientific Bibliographic Databases
• Chemical Abstracts – [Link]
• Compendex – [Link]/compendex
• Identification of research groups and emerging • Medline – [Link]
companies. • Web of Science – [Link]
• Assessment of these research groups and emerging Patent Databases
companies through previously defined criteria. • Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial (INPI):
[Link]
• Development of the addresses and contact names, • DII Derwent Innovations Index – [Link]
and the means for accessing them. [Link]
• Description of the methodology applied. Newspaper Files
• Folha de São Paulo – [Link]/
• Suggestions for applying this methodology to other • Valor Econômico – [Link]/
technological platforms. Newspaper Clippings
• Redetec – [Link]
• Baquete – [Link]
General Internet Search Engines
METHOLOLOGY • Google – [Link]
This work resulted from both post-doctorate and • Northernlight – [Link]
consulting project work requested by a company customer Research Institution and Foundation Sources
and involved the following steps: • IPT – de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São
Paulo S. A. – [Link]
• FAPESP – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado
• Producing context and drawing details for pertinent de São Paulo – [Link]
technologies

• Planning
Sidebar 1: Search Strategy Keywords • Gathering information
and Phrases
• Analysis of information
• Biodegradable and (polymer* or polypeptide* or • Producing a report and delivery it to the requester
plastic* or resin* or thermoplastic*) company
• Biodegradable and (film* or foam* or polyurethane* or
polyester* or polyether*)
• Biodegradable and (polyanhydride* or polysaccharide* Detailing the context and technologies covered the
or membrane* or protein*) main types of biodegradable polymers and their forms of
• Biopolymer* or Bioplastic* or Natural polymer* production and commercial uses. The defining context
• PHA - Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) step included searches of papers, technical articles, internet
• Biodegradable polyamide* sites, and expert consulting. The planning steps included
• PHB - Poly(hydroxybutyrate) developing the analytical framework and collecting
• PHBV - Poly(hydroxybutyrate/hydroxyvalerate) instruments, selecting information sources and search
• PLA - Poly(lactic acid) strategies (see Sidebar 1) and organizing the resulting
• PGA - Poly(glycolic acid) information.
• PCL - Poly(caprolactone).
The identification of research groups and emerging
companies made use of several secondary information

42 [Link] Competitive Intelligence

 practical use of competitive technical intelligence

sources that were available in reliable websites or databases Graphics of competence and attractiveness were built
(see sidebar 2). from final grades based on The Boston Consulting Group
We collected 428 bibliographic records from principles. Figures 2 and 3 show an illustration of plot
these resources, including papers, patents, press news, of group’s competence and its technology attractiveness
homepages and researchers’ names, affiliations, addresses, used to evaluate block 1 and block 2 groups. Due to
etc. The data were treated, classified and organized in a the different assessment methodology used in these two
single database. This identified 78 potential groups of blocks, the group’s classifications were separated. For each
research institutes/universities and emerging companies, assessed group from blocks 1 and 2, a summary file written
and we focused on the 68 that had specific contact by the leader of our research group was created containing
information. This effort primarily made use of websites. identification, address, description, summary, important
information about competence and attractiveness,
Each of the 68 research groups were individually evaluation and observations. The summary files for groups
contacted via e-mail and consulted as primary sources from block 2 were written by the working team (the
through a questionnaire based on information that authors).
was requested by the customer (see Figure 1). The
questionnaire collected more detailed and deeper
information from the groups themselves. Each group
was contacted by phone at least twice to enhance their RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
motivation to fill out this questionnaire. Starting from From 428 records gathered from secondary sources
these 68 groups, 14 answered the questionnaire. we identified and classified 78 potential research groups as
The 27 questions characterized and assessed illustrated in Table 4.
these groups according to their potential (acquisition, Block 1 groups (from PB01 to PB14) were assessed
technology licensing, joint venture, etc.), competence and classified within block according to ranking of
(how good a group is), and their attractiveness (how competence and attractiveness and competence plus
interesting to the company a group’s technology is, based attractiveness that are show in Table 3 and Figure 4.
on the context definition). Questions 4 through 7 assessed According to the assessment results (Figure 4), groups
competence, while questions 1 through 3 and 8 through from block 1 that are most readily prepared to develop
22 provided information to evaluate their attractiveness. partnerships with our client company are PB04, PB02,
We graded the answers on a scale of 1 to 3, and the PB07 and PB10.
questions received their own weights of 1 to 3. Table 1
shows weights attributed to questions and orientations in In the poorly assessed block 2 groups (from PB15
converting questionnaire answers to grades. to PB60), for which primary information doesn’t exist,
secondary information was used. In these cases, six key
The 68 originally identified groups were then divided points were examined to assess groups’ competence
according to what available primary and secondary and attractiveness of them to develop partnerships with
information was additionally available for them. (For company. These key points are:
instance, group 3 didn`t have any available information.)
Table 2 shows the separation procedure that resulted in
groups placed into either Block 1 (assessed groups), Block • Block 2 group’s competence: the existence of
2 (poorly assessed groups) and Block 3 (not assessed a research project financed by companies or
groups). foundations; group’s acknowledgement expressed by
Groups belonging to Block 1, which answered the means of awards received, press news or significant
questionnaire, were assessed mainly by the primary number of publications; availability to use
information collected on them, while the information equipment directed to production or utilization of
collected from secondary resources were used only as biodegradable polymers.
a complement. Groups from block 2 didn’t answer • The attractiveness of block 2 group’s researched
the questionnaire, and they were assessed based on the technology: the existence of patents; the existence
secondary information available on them. Groups from of current partnerships with companies or desire to
block 3 weren’t assessed at all, because they didn’t answer establish partnerships or converting the researched
the questionnaire and not enough information was technology into products; demonstrations that the
available through secondary resources for an assessment.

Volume 15 • Number 2 • April/June 2012 [Link] 43

practical use of competitive technical intelligence

group has data about potential market, production stillshow strong potential for being contacted for
costs and potential competitors for the technology. further discussion concerning their interest.
• An opportunity exists to find out other already
A range of grades from high, average and low built a viable or “worth to be developed” groups that
ranking of competence and attractiveness to assess block match the client company’s objectives, due to the
2 groups. Results of competence and attractiveness from appreciable number of groups (78) in Brazil that
block 2 groups are presented in Figure 5. This figure shows deal with the biodegradable polymers technology;
the classification of block 2 groups based on competence • Group movement is expected through this
and attractiveness of each one. The best groups for further technology field, with groups becoming stronger
partnerships with the client company are PB18, PB26, or weaker. Some can be very competent in areas
PB33 and PB60. broadly related to polymer technology, but they can
Although 13 groups from Block 3 (from PB61 to be just starting to research the specific biodegradable
PB73) were not assessed due to lack of information, these polymer technologies. Thus, the client company
groups were mapped since groups could emerge that should periodically monitor and update the
might have high competence and innovative and attractive information and classification of groups and
technology in the near future, so they deserve to be technology.
monitored. • The assessment methodology used in this work
Figures 6 and 7 present the distribution of is flexible, for instance, in terms of grading and
biodegradable polymers research groups by State and by weighting the assessed aspects. This can be adjusted
blocks in Brazil. These research groups are mainly located according to the further view of the team dealing
in the State of São Paulo (47%). The states of Rio de with the technology analysis. Also, the developed
Janeiro (15%), Minas Gerais (8%) and Santa Catarina methodology is readily extensible to other
(8%) also concentrate substantial number of research technology investigations.
groups. The other 22% of research groups are distributed
in states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do We delivered one report with all the results and
Sul, Pernambuco, Bahia and Espírito Santo. Most of these recommendations to the customer company. We also
states are located in Southeast and South regions of Brazil, provided a presentation of the research results and the
which are more industrialized and have a great number of main recommendations to a specific group of decision-
universities and research institutes. All this context favors a makers from the company’s research and development
high amount of investments, in research and development (R&D) department.
activities, in these regions, from funding institutions
compared to other regions of Brazil. This work’s goal was to identify both the main
Brazilian research groups and emerging companies that,
with respect of biodegradable polymers technology,
carry out activities with potential interest for our client
CONCLUSIONS company. Their interests include the acquisition or
According to the results of this work, the integration licensing of patents, and the development of partnerships
of techniques used to collect, treat and analyze the and business interactions with some of the identified
information related to Biodegradable Polymers Research emerging companies. For the proposed work, the author’s
Groups in Brazil give the following conclusions: achieved the expected results and the methodology used in
this project on biodegradable polymers technology can be
applied to other technological platforms.
• Research groups PB02, PB04, PB07 and PB09 of
Block 1 are most readily prepared for contact to
establish partnerships or to convert the researched
technology into products. Acknowledgements
• Research groups PB18, PB26, PB33 and PB60, We gratefully acknowledge the financial support given
in spite of having not answered the questionnaire, by FAPESP (Process 01/00316-0).

44 [Link] Competitive Intelligence

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Amass, Wendy; Amass, Allen; Tighe, Brian (1998). “A and Technology, v67n11-12 September, p2535–2544.
review of biodegradable polymers: uses, current [Link]
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of biodegradable polyesters, blends of biodegradable Porter, Alan L. (2000). “Text mining for technology
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Bordes, Perrine; Pollet, Eric; Avérous, Luc (2009). “Nano- (2002). “Waste management and production of future
biocomposites: Biodegradable polyester/nanoclay fuels.”Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, v61n3,
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p125–155. [Link]
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Chaves, Helen; Canongia, Claudia; Gaspar, Anaiza; & desenvolvimento: Como integrar P&D ao plano
Maffia, Sueli; Pereira, Marie N.F. (2000). “The estratégico e operacional das empresas como fator de
potential of competitive intelligence tools for produtividade e competitividade. São Paulo, Makron
knowledge management: A study of a Brazilian Books.
database.” Competitive Intelligence Review, v11n4 4th [Link]
Q, p46-57. por/content/view/full/8863
[Link] Scott, G.;Wiles, D.M. (2001). “Programmed-life plastics
Coates, Vary; Farooque, Mahumud; Klavans, Richard; from polyolefins: A new look at sustainability.”
Lapid, Koty; Linstone, Harold; Pistorious, Carl; Biomacromolecules, v2n3 Fall, p615-622.
Porter, Alan (2001). “The future of technology [Link]
forecasting.” Technological Forecasting and Social Sorrentino, Andrea; Gorrasi, Giuliana; Vittoria, Vittoria
Change, V67, p1-17. (2007). “Potential perspectives of bio-nanocomposites
[Link]/[Link] for food packaging applications´. Trends in Food
Inventor’s Handbook. Lemelson-MIT Program. Science & Technology. V18n2 February, p84 -95.
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introduction to biodegradable materials for tissue Watts, Robert J.; Porter, Alan L.; Newman, Nils
engineering applications´. Annals Academy of Medicine C. (1998). “Innovation forecasting using
Singapore, v30n2 March, p183-191. bibliometrics.”Competitive Intelligence Review, v9n4
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Kalia, V.C., Raizada, N., & Sonakya, V., (2000). [Link]
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v59n6, p433-445. CIR4%[Link];2-V/abstract
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Petersson, L.; Kvien I.; Oksman, K. (2007). “Structure
and thermal properties of poly(lactic acid)/cellulose

Volume 15 • Number 2 • April/June 2012 [Link] 45

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Research group’s name: 9) Which goals the group aims to achieve through new partnerships
Unity/Institution: with industries?
Group leader’s name: Implementation of industrial facilities
Other important Total or partial financing
researchers of the group: Establishment of researches direction
Others (specify):
1) Group goals in researching biodegradable polymers:
Characterization of biodegradable polymers 10) How do you characterize the innovation associated to the
Production of biodegradable polymers researched technology?
Utilization of biodegradable polymers in: Patent status Innovation degree
Agriculture/cattle-raising Food Patent already registered Radical
Package Pharmaceutical Patent ready to be registered Incremental
Medicine Construction It’s too soon to request To be evaluated
Others (specify): It’s too late to request Other (specify):
Other objectives (specify):
11) Are there practical results from the researched technology that
2) Which biodegradable polymers and focuses are being researched?
haven’t been registered under a patent? Could these results be
Characterizatio Productio Utilization registered under a patent?
n n
Yes No
Polyester
Polyamide 12) The technological innovation was checked through a patent
Polyurethane research?
Polyether Yes No
Polyanydride 13) Is there any prototype or process showing the technology is
Polysaccharide feasible?
Other Yes No
3) How is produced the researched biodegradable polymer? 14) Are there data about operational tests of the technology that could
Chemical synthesis be accessed by potential partners?
Biological synthesis (with microorganisms) Yes No
Blended with natural polymers (starch, cellulose etc) 15) Time and investment needed to develop products or process were
Other (specify) estimated by any assessment?
4) Does the group have an adequate infrastructure to conduct research Yes No
on biodegradable polymers?
16) The technology is ready for industrial scale production?
Yes No
Yes No
5) What is the main equipment available?
17) If the technology is not ready for industrial scale production,
which improvement is needed to achieve this point?
Cost Processability
Properties Others
18) Was a research conducted aiming to estimate commercial and
6) What Type and Number of Publication Related to Biodegradable market needs or competition from other technologies?
Polymers does the Group Have? Yes No
International papers (how many?)
19) Are there similar technologies available?
National papers (how many?)
Dissertations or Thesis (how many?) Yes No
Patents (how many?) 20) Which interests does the group have in converting the researched
Others (type and number) technologies into products or services such as:
Licensing (royalties) with exclusivity
7) Does the Group Have Partnerships or Financial Support to
Conduct Research on Biodegradable Polymers? Licensing (royalties) without exclusivity
Partnership Financial To sell the technology
Support Exclusive use with an own company
Other institutions Establishment of a joint venture to share the technology
Companies 21) Does the group have autonomy to convert the technology in
Foundations products and/or services?
No partnership or support Yes No
8) Does the group have interests in new partnership with industries? 22) Does the group plan to go on with the researches and goals
Yes No related to biodegradable polymers for the coming years?
Yes No
5
Figure I: Questionnaire sent to groups

46 [Link] Competitive Intelligence

 practical use of competitive technical intelligence

23) Please write a non-confidential summary about the technology and its associated products or process related to
biodegradable polymers. The language level should be simple enough and understandable to allow an initial
conversation and correspondence with companies interested in partnerships, licensing or transfer of technology.
Technology, products and processes related to the research:

24) Please write a summary of complementary information about the group’s academic and business acknowledgement,
in terms of competence, leadership and cooperativeness in the field of biodegradable polymers. It should include
awards, important results previously obtained, partnerships, national or international agreements etc.
Group’s complementary information:

25) Point out other research groups that work with biodegradable polymers
Person for contact Institution E-mail Phone Other information

26) Make critics, suggestions or add complementary information, as you find applicable:

27) Choose the best alternative for NIT/Materiais make use of the information collected from your group:

CONFIDENTIALITY LEVEL

We agree that the presented data can be used integrally to eventual parts interested in partnerships, financing or
acquisition of technologies and research results characterized here.

We agree that the presented data serve as a base to create a communication link between our group and other parts
interested in partnerships, financing or acquisition of technology and research results characterized in this survey,
but they should not be directly disclosed.

The group requests other form for use of the data:

Participant’s name:

6
Figure I: Questionnaire sent to groups

Volume 15 • Number 2 • April/June 2012 [Link] 47

practical use of competitive technical intelligence

Table 1: Weights attributed to questions and orientations in converting

questionnaire answers to grades
Question Orientation in grade attributing according to the answers Grade Wght. Grade*Wght.
4 yes = 3; no = 1 3 1 3
Production, utilization and characterization facilities = 3; Two of
5 three (Production or Utilization or Characterization) = 2 2 2 4
Other option = 1
Patent and International Paper = 3
6 (Patent or International Paper) and (National Paper or thesis) = 2; 2 3 6
Other option = 1
Financial support and (Company and Foundation) = 3; (Partnership
7 or Financial Sup.) and (Company or Foundation) = 2 2 2 4
Other option = 1
Competence (Sum of grade x weight) / (sum of weights) 2,125
Production and Utilization = 3; Production or Utilization = 2;
1 3 1 3
Other option = 1
3 polymers or more = 3; 2 polymers = 2;
2 2 1 2
1 polymer = 1
3 ways of polymer production or more = 3
3 2 ways of polymer production = 2 2 1 2
1 way of polymer production = 1
8 yes = 3; no = 1 3 1 3
Financing and Driving = 3; Financing or Driving = 2; Other option =
9 2 1 2
1
(Patented or Ready to request patent) and Radical = 3; (Patented or
10 2 1 2
Ready to request patent) and Incremental = 2; Other option =1
11 yes = 3; no = 1 3 1 3
12 yes = 3; no = 1 1 1 1
13 yes = 3; no = 1 1 1 1
14 yes = 3; no = 1 1 1 1
15 yes = 3; no = 1 1 1 1
16 yes = 3; no = 1 1 0,5 0,5
None option marked = 3
17 1 0,5 0,5
1 or more options marked = 1
18 yes = 3; no = 1 1 1 1
19 Warning! yes = 1; no = 3 3 1 3
3 or more ways to convert technology in product = 3
20 2 ways to convert technology in product = 2 1 1 1
1 way to convert technology in product = 1
21 yes = 3; no = 1 3 1 3
22 yes = 3; no = 1 3 1 3
Attractiveness (Sum of grade*weight) / (sum of weights) 1,941176471
** Wght = weight

48 [Link] Competitive Intelligence

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Table 2: Classification of the groups in blocks according to the types of

information available
Questionnaire Additional Information
(primary source) (from secondary sources) Groups assessment form
Block Available Not available Enough Not Enough
1 ü ü Assessed

2 ü ü Poorly assessed
3 ü ü Not assessed

Table 3: Ranking of competence, attractiveness and competence plus

attractiveness of Block 1 Groups
Competence Attractiveness Competence + Attractiveness
Group Grade* Group Grade * Group Grade *
PB02 2.75 PB09 2.76 PB02 5.34
PB04 2.50 PB04 2.75 PB04 5.25
PB07 2.50 PB02 2.59 PB07 4.85
PB10 2.25 PB07 2.35 PB09 4.76
PB01 2.12 PB10 2.35 PB10 4.60
PB05 2.12 PB11 2.35 PB14 4.11
PB09 2.00 PB14 2.24 PB01 4.06
PB06 1.88 PB01 1.94 PB05 4.00
PB08 1.88 PB06 1.94 PB11 3.85
PB14 1.88 PB13 1.91 PB06 3.82
PB11 1.50 PB05 1.88 PB08 3.44
PB12 1.50 PB03 1.71 PB13 3.41
PB13 1.50 PB08 1.56 PB12 3.00
PB03 1.00 PB12 1.50 PB03 2.71
* Grade between 1.0 and 3.0. * Grade between 1.0 and 3.0. * Grade of competence plus
attractiveness between 2.0 and 6.0

Table 4: identified emerging companies and research groups

Total groups classified 78 100%
Block 1: Answered questionnaire 14 18%
Block 2: Sufficient secondary information to analyze 46 59%
Block 3: Insufficient information to analyze 13 17%
Others (defunct or currentlynot relevant) 5 6%

Volume 15 • Number 2 • April/June 2012 [Link] 49

practical use of competitive technical intelligence

Low group’s Position of High group’s

competence and Group competence and
high technology high technology
attractiveness. attractiveness.
Possible partnership Group is
demands recommended to
competence raising. partnership.

Low group’s High group’s

competence and low competence and low
technology technology
attractiveness. The attractiveness.
group is not Possible partnership
recommended for demands research
partnership. redirecting.

Figure 2: Illustration of the plot of group’s competence and its technology attractiveness used to
evaluate block 1 groups (which answered the questionnaire).

Figure 3: Illustration of competence and attractiveness plot used to assess

groups from block 2 (without questionnaire but there is enough secondary
information

50 [Link] Competitive Intelligence

 practical use of competitive technical intelligence

04
09

11 02
14 10
07
01

13 06
05
03
12 08

Figure 4: Assessment Summary of Block 1 Groups

Best Block
2 Groups:

 
Figure 5: Assessment Summary of Block 2 Groups

Volume 15 • Number 2 • April/June 2012 [Link] 51

 practical use of competitive technical intelligence

Pedro C. Oprime is researcher at Núcleo de

Informação Tecnológica em Materiais - NIT/
Materiais, Departamento de Engenharia
de Materiais - Universidade Federal de São
Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil, CEP
13565-905. He received his B.S. in Industrial
Engineering and Master Degree in Quality
Management from UFSCar. Also he received
his Ph.D. in Information Science at CRRM-
Marseille, France. He can be contacted at e-mail:
pedro@[Link]

 
Figure 6: Percent distribution of identified and researched
Wanda A. M. Hoffmann is researcher at Núcleo
Brazilian Groups dealing with biodegradable polymers.
de Informação Tecnológica em Materiais - NIT/
Materiais - Departamento de Engenharia de
Materiais - Universidade Federal de São Carlos
(UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil, CEP 13565-
905. She received her B.S. in Metallurgical
Engineering from Universidade Federal de Ouro
Preto, MG, Brazil and her Master and Ph.D. in
Material Science and Engineering from UFSCar,
Brazil. She can be contacted at e-mail: wanda@
[Link]

Leandro I. L. Faria is researcher at Núcleo de

Informação Tecnológica em Materiais - NIT/
Materiais, Departamento de Engenharia de
Materiais - Universidade Federal de São Carlos
  (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil, CEP 13565-
Figure 7: State and Block distribution of identified and 905. He received his B.S., Master and Ph.D. in
Materials Engineering from UFSCar, Brazil. He
researched Brazilian Groups dealing with biodegradable
can be contacted at e-mail: leandro@[Link]
polymers.

Adriana Regina Martin is researcher at Núcleo de Informação José Angelo R. Gregolin is researcher at Núcleo de Informação
Tecnológica em Materiais - NIT/Materiais, Departamento Tecnológica em Materiais - NIT/Materiais, Departamento
de Engenharia de Materiais - Universidade Federal de São de Engenharia de Materiais - Universidade Federal de São
Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil, CEP 13565-905. Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil, CEP 13565-905.
She received her B.S. in Chemistry, her Master and Ph.D. in He received his B.S. in Materials Engineering from UFSCar
Material Science and Engineering, and her Pos Doctorate in and his Master and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from
Competitive Intelligence and Technological Information from Universidade de Campinas, Unicamp. Brazil. He can be
UFSCar, Brazil. She can be contacted at e-mail: drimartin@ contacted at e-mail: gregolin@[Link]
[Link]

52 [Link] Competitive Intelligence