The general objective of this thesis is to study the planning processes in technological poles, involving: 1) the articulation of specific aspects of these poles and the planning perspective; 2) the search of elements for a better understanding of these processes dynamics and 3) the registration of the results, in a specific case,of the introduction of an appropriate planning mode for poles. Given the poles characteristics, the Adaptive Planning approach is adopted. First, the context of the structural changes in the world economy is presented, associated to organizational changes and to the increasing cooperation among agents observed since the eighties.In this sense, the poles are viewed as one form of cooperation.Next, the most representative international experiences of Science Parks are discussed, including their origins, concepts, evolution and performance as well as the common and distinctive characteristics of selected countries. In a broad discussion, the Brazilian experience in modernization and technological poles is analyzed, establishing comparative elements with international experience. Adaptive Planning is presented in a special chapter, including its roots and its tendencies, namely, Normative System Redesign and Non Synoptic Adaptive Planning, with the specific methodologies they encompass. The analysis is deepened with a discussion, from the planning viewpoint, of the problems involved in the development of the Brazilian poles, emphasizing their high degrees of conflict, complexity and uncertainty. The discussion of the analysis`results confirm that the Non Synoptic Adaptive Planning tendency matches with the problems of poles. The general system that the coordinating organization of the pole aims to develop is characterized, the concept of intervention spaces of planning is introduced and a framework for evaluation at the internal space of these organizations is developed. The thesis includes an exploratory research and a case study, both focusing initiatives in Rio de Janeiro State. The exploratory research includes cases of technological poles in the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and the Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro,establishing methodological elements for the analysis of the planning processes involved in incubators and technology parks. The case study aimed at introducting the Adaptive Planning philosophy in the development of the Parque de Alta Tecnologia do Norte Fluminense. Finally, the conclusions of the thesis suggest that the major contributions come from the articulation of the poles and planning thematics, establishing a basis for a better understanding of the dynamics in these planning processes and providing methodological and conceptual elements for the analysis and implementation of Adaptive Planning.