Proposed plan of action

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We identify three major tasks that can hasten the utilisation of research results: (1) changing the standard of academe so that the utilisation of research results will be recognised as an important criterion of success or failure of applied research; (2) development of an easy to implement procedure for identifying research results that are ready for commercial use; and (3) actual commercial utilisation. In the following sections, we specify the activities that need to be done to make sure that the abovementioned tasks are accomplished.

Changing the Standard of Academe

Although academic institutions are usually conservative and not easily influenced by outsiders, they are most susceptible to the wishes of funding institutions. The criteria that funding institutions use for granting research funds are of major interest to researchers in academe, since they usually depend on financial support from outside donors. Naturally enough, what the donor agencies say is accorded great attention by academe. If the donor agencies specify commercial utilisation of research results as a major consideration for approving research proposals, we have no doubt in our minds that many researchers will listen and quickly mend their ways.

We propose, therefore, that funding agencies, probably starting from those present in this workshop, incorporate potential for commercial use as a main criterion for evaluating research proposals. The evaluation components given in Section 11 can be used as a basis.

Take note that these criteria are in fact most relevant to many researchers in postharvest technology, especially in the area of developing equipment and machinery. Research on the development of a new dryer, for example, must specify beforehand the following:

• 1. Who are the potential users of this dryer and how large is the sector?
• 2. What are the existing drying methods and what is the potential advantage of the new method to be developed?
• 3. What is the maximum initial cost of the dryer that the potential market can bear?

Note that all of the above information should be available to the research proponent even before he starts actual development. Consequently, a fairly accurate ex-ante analysis on the potential for commercialisation can be developed even before any donor funds are a

Procedure for Identifying Utilisable Research Results

We have already discussed in detail the criteria required for identifying research results that are ready for commercial utilisation. How then can these criteria be applied? We plan to do the following at SEARCA:

1. Develop a database describing ongoing and completed research in the region. This database must contain not only the commonly gathered information on author, title, completion date, and money spent but, more importantly, the data that are required for assessing potential for commercialisation.

2. Establish a regional network for gathering the required data so that research being done in all parts of the region can be evaluated.

3. Develop the software for data analysis to quickly identify research results with the best potential for commercialisation.

4. Pilot test prototypes for commercial utilisation.

Actual Utilisation

We foresee two main routes for the actual commercialisation of research results. First is through manufacturing, either by large private corporation or by small-scale village industries, while the second is through direct use by farmers and the rest of the rural sector. For the manufacturing scheme, we expect our present research utilisation group to provide a link between research findings and commercial companies. We shall match technical innovations to entrepreneurs so that utilisable research results will be brought to the attention of the most appropriate private commercial companies.

With respect to the scheme of direct use by farmers, we will institute at SEARCA a regional network of on-farm trials, for both lowlands and hill country. These trials will allow for the direct evaluation, in actual farms, of new technologies and innovations that are ready for large scale adoption by farmers. These trials will, at the same time, determine whether the new technologies will be easy or difficult for farmers to adopt.

References

Cuyno, R.V. 1986. Bringing technology to the masks. Paper presented to the staff of the International Systems for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR). July 1986, The Hague, Netherlands.

Hamilton, W.F. 1985. Corporate strategies for managing emerging technologies. Technology in Society Journal, 7, 197-212.

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