Beyond Core‐Periphery: A Multidimensional Typology of Brazilian Regional Inventive Capacity

ABSTRACT The geography of invention in Brazil is characterized by a profound and multi‐polarised structure that extends beyond a simple core‐periphery dichotomy. This paper demonstrates this complexity through a multidimensional analysis of inventive capacity (2000–2023), operationalised along four axes—‘how much’, ‘who’, ‘how’, and ‘what’ is invented—and measured with synthetic indices based on data from the Brazilian Patent Office (INPI). The application of cluster and discriminant analyses reveals a system with eight distinct regional configurations, ranging from a hyper‐technological pole (São Paulo) and consolidated metropolitan hubs to specialised intermediate poles. A critical finding is the chronic deficit in the collaborative dimension (‘how’ invention occurs). The results provide a robust typology for context‐sensitive innovation policies and highlight the persistence of asymmetries that challenge regional development.