Research fund finds few takers

JAKARTA (JP): The government has allocated a total of Rp 550 billion for scientific research over the next five years, but barely a fifth of the amount has been committed.

Pratiwi Sudharmono, a senior microbiologist of the University of Indonesia, blamed this on the lack of quality research proposals.

Prawiti said research studies have managed to obtain only Rp 30 billion from the huge available research fund held by the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

"We should be able to get more than that," Pratiwi said at a seminar on biotechnology and the environment.

Bappenas has imposed strict criteria on scientific research it is willing to finance, and has drawn up a list of area priorities, including biotechnology, chemical, fishery, forestry, electronics and pharmaceutical industries.

"Many research proposals have simply failed to meet the required standards for funding," Prawiti said.

She said poor communication between the various research institutes has led to overlapping work. "For example, the University of Indonesia has been conducting research on bacillus while other agencies are doing the same thing. That's a waste."

The development of biotechnology in Indonesia is coordinated by a special committee which has decided on a number of programs including antibiotics, vaccines, diagnostic and rice. (prs)