Research council touts projects to private sector

Research council touts projects to private sector

JAKARTA (JP): The National Research Council has began touting
projects for industrial application to private companies, hoping
those interested will pay part of the research costs.

The research projects will be strictly for commercial purposes
with a view to solving various industrial problems, including
enhancing the competitive edge of domestic products, the
council's deputy chairman, Samaun Samadikun, announced on Monday.

The council is inviting the industrial world to participate in
the program, known by its Indonesian acronym RUK, by partly
financing some of the projects, said Samaun, who is also chairman
of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

He said the government is prepared to pay between 20 percent
and 80 percent of the total costs, setting a ceiling of Rp 2
billion for each project. The rest of the financial burden is
expected to be borne by private companies, the Antara news agency
reported.

He added that the financial arrangement could still be
negotiated because it relates to property rights and profit
sharing. Of course, the bigger the equity of the private sector,
the bigger its share of the profit will be.

"Given that the research program is strictly for commercial
purposes, then its success is to be judged by the return it gives
to the industry which financed the project," he added.

The program will be launched in the 1995/1996 fiscal year
which begins on April 1.

This will be a departure from the present program of the
National Research Council which emphasizes scientific research
projects that often have no commercial application.

The new program, Samaun said, is intended to build a bridge
between the world of research and the industrial sector.

He acknowledged that so far the industrial world appears
somewhat reluctant to take up the council's offer.

"We should know for sure about their response by the end of
January," he said, adding that the council has received queries
about the new program from 60 industrial companies.

The council has set a Jan. 10 deadline for research project
proposals under the program.

Science institute deputy chairman Aprilani Sugiarto said that
the Energy and Natural Resources Section which he heads had
already received two project proposals -- one on the use of
microriza and rizobium in enriching soil came from two timber
companies; and another on the use of dust particles for
construction material came from the state electricity company
PLN, LIP and an Australian company.

Aprilani said there is always a risk in any research project.

"But the companies have to be willing to take the risk." (emb)