Researchers advised to patent invention

CIBINONG, West Java (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno called on researchers to register their inventions with the Ministry of Justice.

There was a lack of knowledge about the need to patent inventions, Try said during an address at a meeting of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

People try to copy the others' invention without realizing that they violate laws on intellectual property rights, he said.

According to Try, the Indonesian public did not understand the importance of research and that it was part of LIPI's responsibilities to address the matter.

He advised LIPI, which directly answers to the President, to improve its efficiency and make the best use of its limited budget.

Try was inaugurating the Widyasatwaloka Research and Development Center for Biology in Cibinong, about 30 kilometers southeast of Jakarta.

The opening of the 8,000 square meters building marked the completion of the Biodiversity Conservation Project, which cost 2.3 billion yen (about US$20 million).

The project is spread over several sites: the Widyasatwaloka center and Biodiversity Information Center in Cibinong; the Gunung Halimun National Park Headquarters and Research Station in the national park; and the Nature Conservation Information Center in Bogor.

The Biodiversity Conservation Program is a cooperative between Indonesia, Japan and the United States.

The biodiversity program is supported by the Japanese government, through JICA, and the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation of the Ministry of Forestry.

The idea behind the project is to develop facilities, provide technical expertise, training and research materials.

Agreement on the cooperative was reached between former prime minister of Japan, Miyazawa, and former president of the United States George Bush in April 1992.

The leaders wanted to provide aid for developing countries in terms of management of biodiversity. Indonesia was selected as the first country to receive such aid.

JICA team leader, S. Takahashi, who is in charge of technical cooperation, said: "Indonesia was selected because it is very rich in biodiversity and fits Japan's intention to support developing countries.

The head of LIPI, Sofjan Tsauri, said: "We hope to eventually create a life sciences center here." (40)