Downstreaming Research Products into Commercialisation through Science Techno Park

The Centre for Policy Analysis / Pusat Analisis Kebijakan (PAK) BAPPENAS held a focus group discussion and field visit to the Centre for Research, Science and Technology (PUSPIPTEK) Serpong, Banten, on 16-18 March 2017.

Downstreaming Research Products into Commercialisation through Science Techno Park

Rohadi Awaludin, Head of Radiopharmaceutical Technology, Center for Technology of Radioisotope and Radiopharmaceutical at BATAN, explains about the Center's product of palliative medicine for cancer therapy to PAK Bappenas.

 

by Aloysius Wiratmo

The Centre for Policy Analysis / Pusat Analisis Kebijakan (PAK) BAPPENAS held a focus group discussion and field visit to the Centre for Research, Science and Technology (PUSPIPTEK) Serpong, Banten, on 16-18 March 2017. The purpose was to learn from the experiences of government research and development centres under PUSPIPTEK about the use of research and development products for the commercialisation of science and technology-based industries, in particular through science techno parks. The visit was the first in a series of events to identify obstacles to developing science parks in Indonesia.

It is a little-known fact that PUSPIPTEK is the biggest centre for research, science and technology in Indonesia. The area covers 460 ha and consists of 47 research centres and laboratories under three prominent non-ministerial research and development agencies (the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), and the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), and two  training centres belong to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry). Since its establishment in 1976, the investment has been more than US$500 million. There are more than 2,400 staff, many of whom have international post-graduate degrees. 

PUSPIPTEK was originally designed as an integrated area in which research centres, universities and industry could link with each other. Invention should lead to innovation and research products down stream, to science and technology-based industries benefiting people, and to national competitiveness. PUSPIPTEK has the required resources and facilities for a functioning sustainable science techno park: capacity for research and development, capacity to create technology-based entrepreneurship (business and technology incubation) and capacity to attract industries. “PUSPIPTEK has all the required facilities. There is only one click needed: Regulation,” said Dr. Ir. Sri Setiawati, MA, the Head of PUSPIPTEK.

However, after 40 years of operation, PUSPIPTEK is not yet fully facilitating the use of research products for science and technology-based industries in Indonesia. More in-depth analysis is needed to identify comprehensive regulations for PUSPIPTEK to grow as a sustainable science park. Recommendations include: 1) From an institutional perspective, there should be a professional team to manage PUSPIPTEK, aside from assigned government officials; 2) From a financial perspective, there should be multi-year budget allocations for PUSPIPTEK – single-year budgeting is not conducive to innovation; 3) For industries, there should be clear (tax) incentives to invest in and collaborate with PUSPIPTEK; 4) For researchers and inventors, there should be a fair scheme and incentives, such as royalties and joint research with industry; and 5) Harmonise regulations from other national agencies that sometimes become obstacles for research and development-related activities, such as from the customs office and control agency. 

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