Only four local inventions have been patented in 11 years

Only four local inventions have been patented in 11 years

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Millions of Indonesians are familiar with and traditionally used
to eating tempe, a fermented soybean cake. But surprisingly its
patent belongs to Japan.

Many plants and species originating in Indonesia have also
been patented by other countries, including aquila, a family of
eel, which is an original fish from Kalimantan.

While their counterparts abroad win respect and earn a lot
from their research and inventions, Indonesian scientists are
happy enough with publication of their work, the head of planning
and finance bureau at the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI),
Rochadi Abdulhadi, said.

"Our researchers' awareness on patents is considerably low,"
Rochadi told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

He said only four inventions proposed by LIPI researchers had
been patented since 1992, with 64 in the process.

The patented inventions are made of alkali ether, salt,
ceramic concrete, nickel laterite and guidance for people driving
four-wheel drive vehicles with dark window film.

Rochadi said the biggest obstacle was with the inventors
themselves.

He admitted that to propose a patent, an inventor needed to
prepare a kind of thesis and wait for years until the patent is
granted.

"It might also cost some money, of course, while some
inventions are not for commercial purpose. Some inventors say
they do not want to spend too much money on a patent for
inventions which are not profitable," he said.

Financing has become a serious problem in doing research in
the country, which will later affect the patenting process of an
invention, said Rochadi.

"With a very limited budget, while in fact we have many
opportunities of doing research, we are forced to cooperate with
foreign countries as they have the money. At first this is very
good but when it comes to inventions, there are always a problem
on who will have the right for the patent," he said.

To make matters worse, the government's commitment to research
is questionable as evidenced by its decision to slash the budget
allocated for LIPI. The ongoing budget for LIPI stands at Rp 130
billion (US$15.3 million), a drop of Rp 20 billion compared to
last year.

Rochadi said that despite the obstacles, LIPI had always taken
the moral responsibility to promote patented inventions among
researchers.

"We need to keep them aware of patents, otherwise their work
will be a waste of money and energy if their inventions are
patented by other countries," he said.

The has been an increase in the number of researchers seeking
to patent their inventions in the past five years, Rochadi said.
From only four inventions proposed for patents, the figure
steadily increased to 16 in 2001.

Most of the inventions proposed for patents are related to
chemistry, he said.

LIPI will take the momentum of its eighth National Science
Congress next week to build awareness of patenting among
researchers.

The congress, scheduled to run from Sept. 9 to Sept. 11. is
expected to gather researchers, either from LIPI or other
institutions, and industry to discuss the future of sciences in
the country.

Rochadi, who is also the chairman of the congress, said he
expected the researchers would also discuss more on patent,
although it is not listed on the agenda.

On the closing of the congress, a declaration is expected to
be signed to encourage researchers to do more for the science
development in the country.