Proposed Innovation Policy for the Municipality of Nova Mutum, MT
multilevel governance; innovation ecosystem; municipal legislation.
Technological innovation is one of the main drivers of contemporary socioeconomic development. It has a direct impact on territorial competitiveness and the ability to address complex social challenges. Brazil has a set of legislative instruments that encourage innovation at the national level, and the state of Mato Grosso has its own structured innovation legislation. However, public innovation policies at the municipal level still lack integration, long-term planning, and consistent evaluation mechanisms. Nova Mutum (MT) is no exception. Despite having regulatory instruments related to innovation, it lacks a structured municipal policy capable of systematically articulating actors and initiatives. Therefore, this study proposes a regulatory framework for Nova Mutum's Municipal Innovation Policy, contributing to the consolidation of a local strategy for innovative development. The methodology adopts a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive approach structured in five stages: (i) a bibliographic and documentary review including a systematic analysis of dissertations and theses on municipal innovation policies with a thematic analysis, (ii) telematic documentary research in Mato Grosso municipalities with a thematic analysis, (iii) characterization of the research environment through documentary analysis and focus groups, (iv) benchmarking municipal policies using Lucas do Rio Verde (MT) and Petrolina (PE) as references; and (v) developing and validating a draft municipal innovation policy with the Municipal Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation through semi-structured interviews. The preliminary findings reveal regulatory fragmentation within the municipality of Nova Mutum. Although legal instruments related to the Technology Park, the Inova Mutum Program, and the Municipal Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation exist, they are not well integrated or practical. Interacting with entrepreneurs, civil society, academia, and the government revealed limitations and potential. This interaction reinforced the need for a municipal policy that consolidates guidelines, promotes interinstitutional cooperation, and aligns local initiatives with national and state innovation trends. The ultimate goal is to create a comprehensive diagnosis of the local innovation ecosystem, analyze internal and external regulatory models, and develop a participatory draft law validated by institutional stakeholders. This technical product aims to foster innovation environments, improve governance, attract investment, and align the municipality with national and international standards. It is expected to impact the Sustainable Development Goals.