Biography

Professor Dr. Mofizuddin Ahmed

(BAAS President: 1978-1980)

 

Professor Dr. Mofizuddin Ahmed was born on 2nd May 1921. He obtained B. Sc. Hons. and M.Sc. in Chemistry in 1942 and 1944 respectively from the University of Dhaka. He received Ph. D. from Pennsylvania State University, USA in 1948.

Professor Ahmed started his career as a Lecturer in the University of Dhaka in 1948 and became Emeritus Professor of Chemistry Department of University of Dhaka in 1984. His fields of specialization were structural chemistry, plant products and mechanism of organic reactions.

Professor Ahmed was the Founder President, Bangladesh Chemical Society from 1973-1980; President, Bangladesh Association of Scientist and Scientific Professions in 1982; and Vice-President of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences in 1986; and Fellow of Indian and American Chemical Society; American Association for the Advancement of Science. He received Independence Day Gold Medal and Bangladesh Chemical Society Gold Medal.

Professor M. Ahmed expired on 26 September 1997.

Presidential Address

2 March 1980

Orientation of Scientific and Industrial Research Towards Economic Development

Hon’ble President, Your Excellencies;

Vice-Chancellor of the Rajshahi University;

Members of the Bangladesh Association for Advancement of Science;

Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Introduction

⦁ At the outset I should like to avail this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to the fellow members of the Bangladesh Association for the advancement of Science for the honour they have done me by electing me to the highest position of the President of the Association. The confidence reposed on me by the scientists of the country carries with it a great responsibility, which I accept with a profound sense of humility. I pray, I may come up to their expectation.

⦁ We feel greatly honoured and encouraged by the presence in our midst of the President of the Peoples‟ Republic of Bangladesh, General Ziaur Rahman, who, in spite of numerous pressing state business, has found time to grace the occasion by his presence and inaugurate the conference. His interest in science and technology is well known to all of us and needs no mention. We only hope that his interest continues and his dynamic leadership places the Bangladesh science and technology in rightful place to enable them to offer the service, the country so badly needs for developing a sustaining economy.

 

Development of technology:

⦁ Foundation of economic development is technology– technology not in the narrower sense of the use of machines but in broader sense of application of knowledge for the production or improvement of goods and services or simply the “know-how”. The base of technological advancement is, on the other hand, research (symbolized by R) and experimental development or simply, development (symbolized by D). Research (R) refers to acquisition of new knowledge; and development (D), to “the systematic use of results of research and of empirical knowledge directed toward the introduction of new materials, products, devices, processes and methods– or the improvement of existing ones–including the development of prototypes and pilot plants. It comprises the studies needed to ascertain the technical, social, and economic feasibility, usefulness, acceptability and profitability of the innovations”. Research derives its concept from present knowledge, and proceeds, in the sense of industrial research, till a new technical product/process is evolved in a laboratory: then comes the development to take up the new product/ process to the stage of manufacture through various stages such as small scale use, pilot plant study, feasibility study, consumers‟ testing, costing, is attained through development. In the words, in the development of technology, etc., as shown in Fig 1. It is to be noted that production is attained through development. In other words, in the development of technology, R & D are inseparable links of a chain that ends finally into production, each link assisting and stimulating the other.

4. Research and Development are not necessarily sequential. They may go side by side. There could be independent inputs (ideas, empirical knowledge, exiting knowledge etc.) to both research and development. The output of research partly enriches knowledge, and partly flows into the development; again a part of the output of development flows back to research in the form of new knowledge, new and improved instruments, equipment, techniques, though the major part brings about technological innovations and feeds industries and industrial concerns. Development involves engineers, whose task is to apply technology to satisfy the human needs and wants, and thus deals with the conception, design and use of new forms of plants, equipment, machines or their installations and ensures “the most efficient ways of reaching well-defined social or economic objectives by such means.”

5. It is to be borne in mind that results of research flow into production through development, and therefore, if scientific research is to be made productive, and an effective tool for economic development, development (D) must be associated with research (R), and be given enough emphasis. Developed countries put enormous stress on D; and D receives major supports. For instance, in 1973, Sweden spent in R & D $791 millions out of which some $543 millions went on Development (Table 1). It was estimated in 1977 that US would spend $ 26.612 millions in Development, $ 9,101 millions in Applied Research, and $ 5178 millions in Basic research (Table 2). The position in developing countries is, on the other hand, otherwise, Development did not receive as much consideration as it deserved.

 

It is important to note: “Research results whether produced locally or abroad are only of value, if they lead to production of goods for sale at a profit or if they provide essential service. The all important implementation process, involving sealing up, consumer testing, manufacturing, management, marketing etc., is far more expensive, difficult and time consuming than the initial research and without these implementation processes, the initial research is sterile”. I should like to re-emphasize that research, development, and production are inseparable links of the same chain. If one link is missing, the chain is broken and result is negative. If one link is weak, the chain is weak and contribution is insignificant. Unfortunately this was hardly realized in our country. Consequently the result is that the scientific research is little or nonproductive. I shall deal with it later on. 6. R & D are related also with other sectors of national life and closely with higher education as shown in Fig 2. It is hardly necessary to point out that base of effective R & D is good and efficient higher education. Those nations, which are advanced in higher education, are also advanced in R & D and technology.

 

Implantation of Technology: 7. Implantation of technology in a country takes place in two ways through (i) vertical and (ii) horizontal technology transfer. Vertical technology transfer is one where flow of knowledge and know-how follows the sequence “research, development, technological innovations”. This is practiced in most developed countries. They are dependent on international trade, and subjected to a serious competitive market, which put constant pressure on them for new products, improved quality, efficient equipment, cheaper variety etc; in other words, competitive market compels them to develop new technology and introduce innovations. Therefore, they are constantly in search of innovations, and support heavily their R & D establishments for the purpose. The world-wide expenditure on R & D amounts at present to $60 billion of which 98% is spent in developed countries. In horizontal transfer, on the other hand, technologies propagate gradually within a country or form one country to another and extends form one use to another, from one branch of industry to another, and from one economic sector to another within a country or from one country to another. In developed countries both the systems exist, and one system finds support in another. While “vertical technology transfer” generates new technology, the horizontal transfer transplants it to the country concerned, and to other countries. Developing countries, in general, receive technology through horizontal technology transfer from developed countries.

Need for R & D:

8. If is often argued whether a developing country, like Bangladesh, having meager financial resource and acute shortage of foreign exchange could abandon technology generation or vertical technology transfer and depend on horizontal technology transfer form other countries, Opinion is in favour of such participation in vertical transfer, the reasons given are being : (a) Horizontal technology transfer alone cannot provide a satisfactory solution to either the agricultural problems peculiar to the climate, the soil and the local water balance, or the mining problems resulting from the countries geological formation; a domestic R & D drive in favour of vertical technology transfer in these fields is always indispensable; (b) In view of its “communication” aspect, horizontal technology transfer requires the supplier and user to be “on the same wave-length”. So in the receiving country there must be teams of scientists and engineers whose research activity keeps them abreast of the science or technology in question. It is obvious that these teams can attain and maintain this position only if they themselves participate in original technology innovation;

(c) Horizontal technology transfer is carried out on more favorable terms when it is possible to combine barter and purchase. Countries which are able to offer in exchange the results obtained in their own public or private laboratories will have access to the best foreign licenses and to the most advanced foreign know-how;

(d) Each stage of development must be a stepping-stone to the subsequent stages. In its first industrialization phase, a country must, there fore, prepare the vantage points from which it will tackle the following phase. So, from the outset, it must have a potential for original technological innovation in a few well chosen areas;

(e) Public scientific and technological services, which have an essential part to play during the first phases of industrialization, cannot attain and maintain a high standard of quality, nor can they fulfill their educational role in the country, without conducting significant research activities.”

9. It is true, the cost of scientific and technological research at home is an expensive undertaking which is beyond the present financial means of many developing countries like Bangladesh but these expenses must be compared with ever increasing cost and dependency associated with horizontal transfer from abroad as outlined below:

i) purchase costs of patents, licenses, know-how and trademarks;

ii) expenses incurred in acquiring the necessary technical knowledge and know-how at the pre-investment, investment and operational stages;

iii) expenses resulting from overpricing imports of intermediary products, spare parts and equipment indispensable to the implantation and operation of the technology in question;

iv) expenses and outlays of foreign currency because of profits due to the foreign share of the firm; it may, for example, be a matter of re-patriation of funds, which in part represents the purchasing country‟s payment for the technology transferred;

v) other forms of indirect costs arising in particular from restrictive clauses in the contract, such as prohibition to export, or from accounting manipulations in the case of branches of foreign firms, enabling them to avoid paying local taxes of customs duty;

vi) lessened scientific and technological acculturation, owing to the fact that branches of foreign companies tend to have all research and experimental development necessary for the launching, maintenance and modernization of production carried out by the parent company. As a result, in the countries receiving the technology career prospects are not bright for research scientists and engineers, and for nationals who have undergone such training; there is often no alternative but to join the brain-drain.

10. Stringent analysis of the scope and variety of the costs of horizontal technology transfer, which are now a days spread over the whole range of industries from the primary to the tertiary sectors, has shown that this form of transfer tends to generate or perpetuate some of the features of underdevelopment. The Advisory Committee on the Application of Science and Technology for Development (established by UN in 1964) “rejects the view held by some economists that the best hope for the developing countries lies in their acquisition of technologies that are already applied in more advanced countries, and that it is a mistake and a waste of their resources for them to go in for research and technical development of their own, in view of the costs of research and development”. On the contrary, R & D in case of horizontal transfer of technology can play a most significant role in developing countries in selecting and assimilating the imported technology by adapting, modifying and improving upon it. For developing countries, therefore, judicious composition of the “mix” has been recommended (recommendation No 13. of the Inter-regional Group of Experts on the Transfer of Operative Technology, 1972, UN Sales No. E72 II.A.I.). The Advisory Committee also advocated that “in the developing countries this R & D structure needs to be heavily weighted towards the problems of production. In many cases existing institutions need to be industry, and new institutions should, from the beginning, be strongly oriented towards the local practical problems and towards meeting the needs of local users” This is to be noted, and I should like to emphasize on this point for R & D establishments.

11. It is, therefore, clear from what has been said above that economic development depends largely on a country‟s own capability to generate, transfer and absorb technology, It is rightly pointed out that “of paramount concern... are the developing countries‟ own capability to assess, select, develop, adapt and apply technology and the underlying scientific knowledge”. Our country urgently needs to build this capability without which it will remain in “perpetual bondage” and sub-servient to technology donors, and research will remain in laboratory, no matter how bitter we may feel about it.

It is observed: “It is not bad to borrow technology from foreign countries through horizontal transfer but the way we have done it, that has done us harm. We almost isolate and insulate ourselves, and in the process become dependent and even sub-servient on the technology donor. Borrowing must not end in perpetual bondage”.

Background of R & D in Bangladesh:

12. Having discussed the process of generation and transfer of technology, and the role of R & D in advancement of technology for economic development, I should like to deal with the process of industrialization of Bangladesh and the present condition of industries with a view to examining subsequently on the role of R & D in our country. There are about 400 industrial units under the control of more than half of a dozen public sector corporations. Key industrial outputs are fertilizers, sugars, papers, textiles, cement, jute and jute goods. Industrial sector contributes 8.1% of GDP. These industries are based on foreign technology imported as “packages” under aids/loans. Bangladesh remains fully dependent on foreign technology suppliers for the know-how associated with them, spare parts, and all related matter except for routine operation. Hardly there was any effort to “unpackage” them, adapt them, or improve upon them or their products. This absolute dependence never created in the minds of the importers of technology the urge for associating scientists/technologists of the country, and therefore, they (the industrialists) hardly came to the scientists, and felt the need of R & D and persons associated with them.

13. On the other hand, what do we see in developed country? Industries, as stated earlier, put constant pressure on R & D for technological innovations. In fact, “application of science and technology to development is viewed as a supply and demand situation through which the requirements of industry or other sectors of national activity, such as, agriculture and medicine, are translated into need for new knowledge and the out put of R & D system is translated into possible economically or socially oriented applications. In this process demands are placed on the scientific community for new knowledge in applicable form and for certain scientific and technological services”. In advanced countries industries support R & D heavily and R & D establishments tailor research programme according to the need of the industries. In Tables 1 & 2 it may be seen that in Sweden industry paid $628 million out of $ 751 million for industrial research, and in U.S.A. industry contributed $12,936 million for development against $ 21,910 million and $3700 million in Applied research against total of $5050 million. Nearly three quarters of Japan‟s total R & D expenditure occur in private sector, having emphasis on applied research. Similar are the fingers for other developed countries. Besides, an industry or a group of industries having similar interest establishes national co-operative Industrial Research Association (IRA) for assisting that industry or a group of industries. Some idea of such RAs can be gained from the Table 3. These RAs, being answerable to industry or a group of industries, are under constant pressure for productive research. In may be illustrated through an example. British Glass Industry Research Association received £40,000 on a ten-year programme to improve glass furnace performance. Its research is believed to have saved the industry £300,000 per annum in fuel alone. This is to indicate that the supply and demand situation and the interconnecting link play significant role in making R & D an effective economic tool. Insulation makes industries foreign dependent, and R & D economically little productive or unproductive. Bangladesh is in this situation, neither the industries nor R & D establishments are finding adequate support in the other.

14. In the above background of industrialization of the then East Pakistan, scientific and industrial research started in 1953 under PCSIR in a regional laboratory in Dacca. For critical examination of R & D system in Bangladesh, it is also desirable to take stock of the conditions of higher education at that time. In 1921 Decca University was established. In twenties disciplines of Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics were introduced. Some notable persons, having overseas training and higher education, were appointed in senior teaching posts. They starred academic research in those subjects in the lines of own overseas research. Subsequently in late thirties and forties came Departments of Botany, Soil Science and in fifties Departments of Biochemistry, Zoology, and Geology in Decca University. More universities with some of these disciplines were also established in fifties and sixties in our country. Persons, having brilliant academic career, were trained, and appointed in teaching posts in these universities. They continued research more or less in the fields they studied abroad having little relevance to local needs. These formed the materials for M.Sc., and Ph.D. programmes. It is only natural that this research was academic. This is the background of initiation of scientific research in Bangladesh; and with this background scientific and industrial research took off.

15. Though scientific and industrial research was established aiming at helping industries, it started, under the above background, purely as an academic body, dealing with problems similar in nature to these studied in the universities. The leadership of the scientific and industrial research went to lading scientists of the country who had brilliant academic career and wonderful records of academic research; and little experience of industry and problems associated with it. It was pointed out that though industrialisation started in the country, yet this organisation or its leaders of scientists, in general, were kept out of it. In consequence, industrial research came to existence in isolation from industry with scientists having brilliant academic records but little experience of industry, and remained divorced from industrial needs. Thus, a gap arose during the initiation of industry and R & D.

16. Very little, if at all, was realized that (a) research, if meant to be of economic and social value, must be associated with development (D), (b) development requires engineering and design work, (c) there was a great need for higher engineering and technological education for technological development. Research and advanced engineering education, which form the base of technological innovations and development (D), hardly received the consideration it called for. On the other hand, the independent India under the leadership of Pandit Nehru saw quite clearly the need, and established a number of India Institutes of Technology all over the country with a determined aim to set international standard in quality. The result was that along with scientists, first rate technologists/engineers started coming out and taking the rightful place in national life. In our case, the realization came only in early sixties with the Education Commission‟s Report and the first University of Engineering and Technology was set up in mid sixties in Dacca to offer advanced education. This means that advanced study and research in engineering and technology came recently in Bangladesh. Absence of duly qualified engineers made the industries more and more foreign dependent, R & D more sterile and the gap between industries and R & D wider. It was not felt because the country depended entirely on foreign technology and never thought of its adaptation or absorption, or designing a prototype, or even producing spare parts. While under the political leadership, engineering education and technology development flourished in India, we just took it lightly and remained happy with establishment of scientific and industrial research with general scientists, and no engineer/ technologist. Thus the chain of research, development, and production was never established and we remained fully dependent on foreign technology. Our R & D establishments remained very weak, particularly in respect of development of technology; the research remained within the four walls of the laboratory, mostly in the test tubes, and in the published reports, patents etc. I am tempted to quote (vide, Table 4) the distribution of scientists/ technologists of BCSIR, and CSIRO Australia for a comparison. It may be seen that while CSIRO had 268 engineers, BCSIR has only 5.