Overview of discourses on innovation and development in the academic field: the debate on the Legal Framework of Science, Technology and Innovation

ABSTRACT The main associations of academics, also from the productive sector, had a decisive role in the process that culminated in the publication of Law n° 13.243/2016. In order to identify and interpret the discourses, we carried out an investigation into the legislative process of the project (between 2013 and 2016). Based on documents from the National Congress, we found the main institutional actors. We expanded the dataset with references produced by the associations themselves. Finally, we retrieved from the economic sciences some empirical and theoretical sources that allowed us to criticize the partiality of the analyses and the idealism contained in the speeches. As a result, we find discourses based on liberal dogmas — such as austerity and free trade — in which the university becomes a means for satisfying market interests. Our findings serve as a support for the proposal of a leading university in mission-oriented national development.