This text analyses the so called "3rd Mission" of the research university, what ever transfer of knowledge, technology and innovation; that has been fallowed by reconfigurations in both researchers (lining up to the new way of scientific production), and education (lining up to new adequate profiles to the economy and society of technology). Doing a brief summary of the European reforms that changed deeply the governance system of higher education and its universities, fallowed by a changing systematization that has been reshaping the place and roles that of the research universities in Brazil - both those promoted by the MEC (Ministry of Education & Culture), and specially those promoted by MCT (Ministry of Science & Technology). These materials are used to discuss the adjustments of the institutional configuration of the Brazilian research universities - specially the federal network - to the new challenges of producing (and transferring) knowledge and frameworks that propels innovation, economy and knowledge society in the country.
knowledge and technology transfer; innovation; 3rd Mission; governance and relevance of higher education
