Research has to be market oriented, says LIPI chairman<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)
\ncalled on researchers to focus on practical marketable studies
\nrather than purely scientific ones.<\/p>\n
\"This is no longer the time for (scientists) to conduct
\nresearch for the sake of science only,\" said LIPI chairman
\nSamaun Samadikun. \"(Research) should be based on actual needs.\"<\/p>\n
Scientific researchers should \"have their feet firmly planted
\non the ground\" and heed the demands which are developing in
\nsociety, Samaun said.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the press after meeting with Vice President Try
\nSutrisno, Samaun said his office conducted such marketable, fund-
\ngenerating researches.<\/p>\n
He said his office's annual budget is Rp 75 billion (US$34.70
\nmillion), some Rp 10 billion of which is derived from its service
\nmarketing revenue. Several institutions under LIPI, including the
\nNational Engineering Laboratory (LEN) in Bandung, West Java, are
\nalready able to fund their own activities.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by his deputy, S. Kayatmo, Samaun was meeting with
\nTry to report on the construction of three research centers in
\nBandung.<\/p>\n
The centers are for research on telecommunication, computers
\nand subject matter, computers and data, and for electric power
\nand \"mechatronics\". Try is expected to officially open the Rp 11
\nbillion ($5 million) centers in August.<\/p>\n
Samaun said he planned to involve the private sector in
\ndeveloping the center further. \"If private industries are
\ninterested in our research, they can market them...and provide
\nLIPI with royalties,\" Kayatmo added.<\/p>\n
According to Samaun, Try has reminded them that efforts to
\ndevelop industries should never sacrifice the development of
\nscience.<\/p>\n
The problem of perceived lower standards in proficiency among
\nlocal researchers and inadequate facilities have often been cited
\nas among the hindrances for multinational companies from using
\nIndonesian research institutions.<\/p>\n
LIPI once charged that multinational companies operating in
\nIndonesia preferred to use research and development facilities in
\ntheir countries of origin.<\/p>\n
Indonesian researchers have a long-standing complaint that
\ninadequate funds and facilities provided by the government has
\nseriously hampered research activities.<\/p>\n
The problem has been aggravated by the notoriously low
\nsalaries and incentives for researchers, which force many of them
\nto seek additional jobs.<\/p>\n
Senior scientists have also lamented that, compared to other
\ncountries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is at a disadvantage as
\nmany of its scientists are \"late bloomers\" who finish their
\ndoctorates at around 40 years of age. (swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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