House passes law on science, technology development<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday passed the bill on a
\nnational system of the scientific and technological research,
\ndevelopment and application into law, encouraging efforts to
\nachieve integrated advancements in the scientific and
\ntechnological fields.<\/p>\n
The law gained political support from a majority of 330
\nlegislators who attended a plenary session presided over by House
\nDeputy Speaker Tosari Wijaya here on Monday.<\/p>\n
The bill, consisting of nine chapters and 32 articles
\nregulates that all scientific and technological institutions,
\nprimarily universities, institutes, research centers and
\nindustries should cooperate to help improve the nation's
\ncompetitiveness on the international level and to enhance the
\npeople's social welfare as well.<\/p>\n
According to the law, scientific and technological
\ninstitutions are obliged to organize the provision of human
\nresources and research as well as the creation of a conducive
\nclimate needed to master science and technology and to develop
\nthem. Research centers have their function to make inventions and
\ninnovations in science and technology while industries are
\nobliged to utilize the inventions to produce goods and services
\nto meet the market's demands<\/p>\n
However, some articles in the bill were not applicable since
\nthey require supporting regulations to execute.<\/p>\n
Responding to this, deputy House speaker Tosari Widjaja
\nsuggested that the government would soon make some new
\nregulations to complement the law.<\/p>\n
\"The new law should be equipped with supporting regulations,\"
\nTosari told the plenary meeting.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Research and Technology Hatta Rajasa
\nsaid some articles that needed elaboration will be explained on
\nsupporting regulations that would be issued later.<\/p>\n
\"The additional regulations will be completed within six
\nmonths,\" Hatta said.<\/p>\n
He added that in line with the law, the government was obliged
\nto allocate a certain portion of the annual state budget to
\nfinance all activities related to the research and training
\nprograms to improve the quality of human resources in institutes
\nand research centers.<\/p>\n
Hatta emphasized that the government would not make strict
\nregulations that discouraged people from carrying out research.
\n\"We will welcome input from all sectors in society,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The minister said he hoped the new law would improve
\ncoordination among universities, research centers and state
\ncompanies to create the independence which will encourage great
\nachievements from local scientists and increase the level of the
\nnation's self-esteem.<\/p>\n
Key articles in the new law<\/p>\n
Article 22 (1): The government guarantees the interests of
\nsociety, the nation, and the state as well as the harmony between
\nhuman beings and the environment.<\/p>\n
Article 22 (2): Regarding the above, the government will
\nadminister all licenses for research, development and
\nimplementation of science and technology which is deemed high-
\nrisk and hazardous by national and international standards.<\/p>\n
Article 29: Violations of the license as stipulated in article
\n22 carry administrative penalties, from warnings, to termination
\nof research and finally a revocation of the license.<\/p>\n
Article 30 (1): An individual or institution that commits
\nviolations as stipulated in article 22 without a license faces
\nsix months imprisonment or a Rp 50 million fine.<\/p>\n
Article 30 (2): Anyone that commits violations as stipulated
\nin article 22 and endangers human safety, society's health,
\nenvironmental conservation, social harmony or national integrity,
\nfaces criminal penalties or fines in accordance with further
\nlaws.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-passes-law-on-science-technology-development-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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