Research fund finds few takers

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)