Productive scientific research

The decision of the Lower House of Parliament to endorse draft amendments to the Higher Education and Scientific Research Law with a view to increasing allocations for scientific research at academic institutions could be a move in the right direction, in principle at least.

To be sure it is going to take more than funding to improve the quality of scientific research conducted by higher education institutions in the country.

Scientific research is a multidimensional effort that requires excellence in the sciences and a high level of expertise in conducting useful studies in order to provide the necessary foundation for an advanced form of research over and above what is already being conducted in foreign countries. 

There is no justification for duplication of efforts in research being conducted elsewhere in the world.

Above all, the required research should be of an indigenous nature and oriented to the needs of the country. 

Besides it would be of dubious benefit to have national researchers engaging in theoretical scientific investigation that is of no practical use for local industries. 

Come to think of it, any productive scientific research should be a joint effort by academia and the private sector, especially companies that manufacture products for the local and international markets. 

In addition, the draft amendments call for the allocation of 1 per cent of the net profit of shareholding companies to the Scientific Research Support Fund, and for the Income and Sales Tax Department to collect these amounts earmarked for scientific research. 

The legal basis for imposing additional “taxes” on companies for whatever reason requires closer scrutiny. 

Assuming that the Senate goes along with the Lower House on this additional tax burden on profitable companies, the entire taxation legislation would need to be revisited before an additional “tax” is added in whatever form. 

The country does not want hasty solutions to challenges no matter how vital and necessary they might be.