How to commercialize scientific research results?

Currently, in the management of science and technology (Science and Technology) in particular and scientific and technological activities in general are emerging a hot issue is that the research results have not really gone into production, business of businesses, in other words, businesses are not "salty" with the research results of domestic scientists.

This also means that the research results of domestic scientists are not commercialized, the efficiency of scientific and technological activities is low. Meanwhile, the state budget invested in science and technology from 2000 to the present has reached 2% of the total annual budget expenditure. Since 2000, the State spends 2.5 to 3 billion USD each year to import equipment and technology (behind only the value of imported materials and accessories). Nearly 65% ​​of import value of equipment and technology originated from Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, China, mainly imported small and medium enterprises. Interestingly, a large part of these imported equipment and technologies can be manufactured in the country.

The cause of this problem is many, but mostly still belong to businesses, scientists and managers. On the side of enterprises, due to lack of information on the ability of local scientists to manufacture, lack of reliability for products that are still "research" and not yet tested, they have not been bravely looking to buy. domestically produced equipment and technologies, which often choose to import foreign equipment and technology, though at a high price but seem to be guaranteed, less risky and more risky.

Participate in technology markets, a way to introduce research results.(Photo: ND)

On the side of the scientist, due to lack of conditions to deploy scientific ideas, implement experiments, improve technology from research topics and lack of funding to deploy, lack of information on business needs. industry, so research activities are not close to the needs of practical production, have not created trust for businesses. Therefore, the research results have not been commercialized.

The following story is an example: At the Vietnam Technology and Equipment Market in 2003, the oil separator product from the country was researched by a group of scientists from Ho Chi Minh City's Center for Economic Application Consultancy. Widely introduced, and then, this product has received exclusive patents. With the preeminent features of water separation, oil separation, this product is needed to solve the problem of oil-borne water pollution in businesses as well as oil spill-hit areas.

Compared to the oil separator that the world is using (by centrifugation method), this device is 20 to 30 times cheaper, the size is compact, can be easily put on vehicles. mobile. However, oil separators have not yet been delivered to any business. The reason is due to lack of capital during the deployment process.

Through the process of contract reception of businesses to understand this type of equipment, the parties who want to buy are accompanied by the condition that they have to prove that the device has been tested successfully (ie need to have a system System for testing). In order to get a complete oil separation system, it takes 11.5 billion dong, of which three billion dong is invested by the State, three billion dong is paid by the Center, and the remaining is expected to be invested by enterprises. Unfortunately, there are no businesses trusting to invest.

As for the management side, due to the fact that the input selection process is also heavily administrative and applying - for the majority of the project, the project has not come from the requirements of actual production or from problems of the business. Therefore, the equipment and technology created from the above projects and projects are not used by businesses. Moreover, we do not have a specific policy or strategy to support scientists and businesses so that the research results come to the reality of production, thereby commercializing them. In fact, we are only interested in how topics and projects can produce results, and how the results come to actual production are still floating or just stop at those Propagative and encouraging solutions formally . While, from the research results of the topics and projects to the actual application, there is a long distance.

In order to reduce this paradox, step by step commercialize the research results, form the technology market, we suggest some of the following solutions:

Firstly , innovate management methods, build science and technology management system based on contracts. The first thing to do is to find customers, choose customers, then shake hands with research customers when they receive the contract money. Thus, once the customer has funded the research, they voluntarily applied new equipment and technology, although there may be risks.

Secondly , the State must be a " midwife " for research results by acquiring research results, thereby investing in real production and enterprises. By doing so, it will gradually create a market for technology trading and exchange.

Thirdly , to create practical mechanisms and policies to promote linkages, cooperation in development triangles between three houses (scientists, managers, entrepreneurs), so that they are closer together. more because of the goals and interests of each party and for the overall development of science and technology of the country.

Fourth , forming intermediaries specializing in brokers to buy, sell and do science and technology transfer services from researchers to businesses. In the experience of developed countries, these intermediaries are very important to link technology supply and demand, connecting scientists to businesses and vice versa. In our country there is a lack of this type of activity.

Expanding international cooperation and exchange on science and technology, especially in the context of the current internationalization and globalization trend, when our country is about to become an official member of the World Trade Organization. (WTO). Thereby, harmonious combination between receiving international technology transfer and knowledge of Vietnamese people to create Vietnamese-branded devices and technologies, competing and gradually replacing equipment and technology imported.

MSc Phạm Chí Trung