During the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, gathered in Rio de Janeiro from 20 to 22 June 2012, one of the common vision designed in the document “The Future We Want” is the need to achieve sustainable development by promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all and reducing inequalities, among others. Research and innovation in higher education institutions in developing countries, allied to the promotion of collaboration among research institutions, universities, the private sector etc., are some of the means to reduce inequalities and contribute to the sustainable development (UNITED NATIONS, 2012, p. 2, 45, 52).

In this meaning, the goal of this research project is to identify and analyse elements that affect the insertion of universities in the global value chain regarding innovation. Based on three research subjects: international strategic alliances (ISA), open innovation – particularly concerning academy-industry cooperation – and transaction costs theory (TCT), it is expected to be possible to understand how the academy can engage in international innovation – and analyse what are the differences between Brazilian universities and similar institutions located elsewhere.