Only four local inventions have been patented in 11 years<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Millions of Indonesians are familiar with and traditionally used
\nto eating tempe, a fermented soybean cake. But surprisingly its
\npatent belongs to Japan.<\/p>\n
Many plants and species originating in Indonesia have also
\nbeen patented by other countries, including aquila, a family of
\neel, which is an original fish from Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
While their counterparts abroad win respect and earn a lot
\nfrom their research and inventions, Indonesian scientists are
\nhappy enough with publication of their work, the head of planning
\nand finance bureau at the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI),
\nRochadi Abdulhadi, said.<\/p>\n
\"Our researchers' awareness on patents is considerably low,\"
\nRochadi told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said only four inventions proposed by LIPI researchers had
\nbeen patented since 1992, with 64 in the process.<\/p>\n
The patented inventions are made of alkali ether, salt,
\nceramic concrete, nickel laterite and guidance for people driving
\nfour-wheel drive vehicles with dark window film.<\/p>\n
Rochadi said the biggest obstacle was with the inventors
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
He admitted that to propose a patent, an inventor needed to
\nprepare a kind of thesis and wait for years until the patent is
\ngranted.<\/p>\n
\"It might also cost some money, of course, while some
\ninventions are not for commercial purpose. Some inventors say
\nthey do not want to spend too much money on a patent for
\ninventions which are not profitable,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Financing has become a serious problem in doing research in
\nthe country, which will later affect the patenting process of an
\ninvention, said Rochadi.<\/p>\n
\"With a very limited budget, while in fact we have many
\nopportunities of doing research, we are forced to cooperate with
\nforeign countries as they have the money. At first this is very
\ngood but when it comes to inventions, there are always a problem
\non who will have the right for the patent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To make matters worse, the government's commitment to research
\nis questionable as evidenced by its decision to slash the budget
\nallocated for LIPI. The ongoing budget for LIPI stands at Rp 130
\nbillion (US$15.3 million), a drop of Rp 20 billion compared to
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Rochadi said that despite the obstacles, LIPI had always taken
\nthe moral responsibility to promote patented inventions among
\nresearchers.<\/p>\n
\"We need to keep them aware of patents, otherwise their work
\nwill be a waste of money and energy if their inventions are
\npatented by other countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The has been an increase in the number of researchers seeking
\nto patent their inventions in the past five years, Rochadi said.
\nFrom only four inventions proposed for patents, the figure
\nsteadily increased to 16 in 2001.<\/p>\n
Most of the inventions proposed for patents are related to
\nchemistry, he said.<\/p>\n
LIPI will take the momentum of its eighth National Science
\nCongress next week to build awareness of patenting among
\nresearchers.<\/p>\n
The congress, scheduled to run from Sept. 9 to Sept. 11. is
\nexpected to gather researchers, either from LIPI or other
\ninstitutions, and industry to discuss the future of sciences in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
Rochadi, who is also the chairman of the congress, said he
\nexpected the researchers would also discuss more on patent,
\nalthough it is not listed on the agenda.<\/p>\n
On the closing of the congress, a declaration is expected to
\nbe signed to encourage researchers to do more for the science
\ndevelopment in the country.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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