Innovation system law needed to better utilize local inventions

The Jakarta Post

Thu, 07/08/2010 9:53 AM - National

The Research and Technology Ministry is currently drafting a bill on a national innovation system that, if passed into law, will be able to bridge the gap among researchers and businesspeople, seen as the main hindrance to the development of local technology.

Research and Technology Minister Suharna Surapranata said the draft will be completed by 2014 to be submitted to the House of Representatives for deliberation.

“The law is needed to regulate communication flows among research and technology stakeholders, such as industry, researchers, and the community,” he said during a meeting at the Tangerang-based Center of Science and Technology Research on Tuesday.

National Innovation Committee (KIN) secretary Freddy Permana Zen said the government-sponsored technology centers had made a number of innovations, including energy efficient cars and solar energy.

“The Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) has recently developed stoves that connect directly to LPG canisters, which is much safer.”

He added that the innovations had not yet been developed for mass manufacture and distribution.

“That is why we need a regulation to address the issue by, for instance, providing incentives for industry to have their own research and development divisions,” he added.

Five divisions under the Research and Technology Ministry will discuss ways to find resources and widen networks to facilitate research and technology. They will also push for the productivity of researchers and ensure their inventions are relevant and well utilized.

The National Innovation System was launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this year to establish institutions that can push, support, disseminate and implement new innovations in many sectors.

Freddy said the 2002 Law on the National System of Research, Development and Application of Science and Technology had allowed the government to provide incentives to companies that spend more on research and development. A government regulation had been issued to implement the policy, but has been deemed ineffectual.

Manaek Simamora, the head of Commercial Cooperation and Research Utilization Division of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said the current 2002 National Research Systems Law and the government regulation were not enough to develop local technology.

“We need strong policy, to serve as a guideline for policy formulation in each sector,” he said.

Indonesia still fails to utilize its own natural resources due to slow technological development, he said.

“Indonesia has not yet fully utilized its coal resources for electricity [production] despite having an abundant supply. Instead of coal, Indonesia uses diesel for electricity, which is expensive,” he said. (map)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/07/08/innovation-system-law-needed-better-utilize-local-inventions.html