Magyar Hírek, 1984 (37. évfolyam, 2-26. szám)

1984-02-18 / 4. szám

Exchange and Credit Bank Ltd. was established for the express purpose of industrial realization and mar­keting of inventions. The firm pro­vides risk capital to innovators and inventors. Once the project is prof­itable, the Innovation Fund also profits, if not, the money is written off. Mrs. Nedeczky’s wrinkle-smooth­ing cream was also supported by the Innovation Fund in conjunction with Biogal Pharmaceutical Works of Debrecen. Production started within a very short time, and the cream proved a success. The princi­pal benefit of the cream is that it is made of natural basic material, and the natural trend enjoys a re­naissance all over the world. The next job on which the In­novation Fund and Biogal will co­operate also promises success, for they are considering the production of a cream based on the basic sub­stance of wine. It will be made of the world famous aszu of Tokaj, and will be marketed under the trade name of Aszu-derm. Another product of innovation is a cream, which considerably re­duces pain due to burns and accel­erates the healing process. It uses natural substances and was in­vented by Lajos Széles, who is in his eighties. Clinical tests proved the beneficial effect of the cream. The lotion is now marketed in pres­sure-cans under the trade name of Irix, made to the Széles recipe, and financed by the Innovation Fund. The lotion is recommended mainly for smoothing sunburnt skin. It is enjoying a great success. Enquiries are being received from as far as Australia. Naxol will be used for more serious burns, therefore more lengthy pharmacological tests have to be completed. The medical cream will be used for healing serious burns. While it is quite understandable that healing and cosmetic products are best known among the products of Hungarian inventors, but it should be pointed out — giving full credit to the importance of the for­mer — that innovations and inven­tions which are less prone to pro­duce colourful stories and are often less in the public eye are those which add most to the improvement of the Hungarian trade balance. Good ideas embodied from time to time in inventions are just as nec­essary elsewhere. For instance, a medicine for a rather common symptom: production is overly ma­terial-intensive in Hungary, and fuel consumption is also higher than jus­tified. The brand new Building In­dustry Innovation Fund, established with a nominal capital of 300 mil­lion forint, in addition to the central development programmes, also sup­ports the development and general application of material and energy saving technologies. The Agrarian Invention Fund which is also new, will provide support for intellectual products lo be employed in agricul­ture where better material and fuel management are also pressing ne­cessities There is, for instance, a great demand foi inventions to reduce the fuel need of animal hus­bandry stations, or to substitute imported protein fodders by domes­tically produced equivalents. The notion that even more money will have to be spent on purchasing licences in the future since this is the quickest way of introducing modern, well-proven processes, is also part of the development policy of Hungary. TAMÁS OLTVÁNYI 1. New Fabulon products: cosmetic articles for in­fants under laboratory testing PHOTO: JANOS HADAS — MTI 2. The technology for producing bubble-me­mory was worked out by the Central Physical Research Institute and the Hungarian Optical Works in 1980. PHOTO: GYULA TOTH — MTI 3. A new laser-instrument used in surgery produc­ed by the Research In­stitute of the United In­candescent Works PHOTO: GYULA TOTH — MTI The Ernő Rubik Innovation Foundation p A foundation unique in its class in Hungary was incorporated in April 1983. It was established by a man who made his name familiar throug hout the world with a num­ber of successful inventions, includ­ing the cube that bears his name. The Rubik Innovation Fund, was estab­lished with seven million forint’s worth of royalties earned by him. It is designed to further new inven­tions and ideas. The fund will fi­nance the first steps what many deem the most difficult, that is ex­periments the making of prototypes and preparing feasibility studies. The trustee of the foundation is the State Development Bank. “How does such a small sum fit into the business of a bank handling hundreds and thousands of millions, however large it may be as a private foundation?" — I asked János K om­lós, an executive of the bank, who is also one of the trustees of the Foundation. “We handle three innovation agencies: the Creative Youth Asso­ciation, which we operate in con­junction with the youth federation, the Small Workshop Innovation Bureau, a joint venture of ours with the National Federation of Petty Tradesmen, and Novotrade, which we established with the co­operation of the Central Exchange and Credit Bank and the Foreign Trading Bank. These agencies may well smooth the path of inventions supported by the Rubik Foundation. Furthermore, should an invention of greater importance emerge, we could also offer our experience in enterprise organization.” “What did the bank undertake as a financial institute, and what as trustees?” “The bank undertook to maintain the real value of the nominal capital by investing it profitably adding a portion of the profits thus earned to the nominal capital. Being the trus­tees of the Foundation means that the applications are received here. We appoint experts to give us initial reports and we forward these to Ernő Rubik. According to the arti­cles of the foundation, he has the last word.” “Let us suppose that this is fa­vourable. What will happen to the money that is paid out?” “The person obtaining it is obliged to refund it once his project suc­ceeds, adding a percentage of the profits derived from his project. This is then added to the foundation to increase the funds available to other applicants. The money re­ceived does not have to be refunded if the invention does not turn into a marketable product. But an inventor does not merely need material support. The General Secretary of the Federation of Tech­nical and Scientific Associations, for instance, wrote a round robin to member associations following which the best experts now give opinions for a nominal fee.” “I am told that 500,000 forints of the fund are available to applying inventors in foreign currency.” “There could be special projects which may need components avail­able only for hard currency or that require trips abroad, i can also en­visage foreign relations in which applicants work in partnership with similar foreign foundations in the case of promising inventions which may need larger amounts of capi­tal.” * ‘‘What could have motivated, you, the father of the foundation, to in­vest in this non-profit fund?” — I asked Ernő Rubik. “Many approached me, asking for many advice, or for financial sup­port for their projects. When this passed a certain point, I considered it was time to rationalize the situa­tion in some way. The foundation is tax-free, thus I am able to give as­sistance to more people with the same amount of money. The great number of applicants also justified the establishment of a management body.” “People talk about a Rubik Stu­dio, which is also involved in in­ventions." “The official name is Technical Development Cooperative Team. A team of fifteen, representing the most varied fields formed the co­operative. The matter is quite fresh yet, we are just testing the market. We are undertaking engineering activity, which follows the ideas right through to the market. Toys are naturally also a part of our range. What we have in mind is laboratory equipment, for instance, and families of household appli­ances. We should like to introduce a technique of quick modelling which would greatly facilitate the introduction and marketing of in­ventions. But since the method is expensive we shall be undertaking the job also on commission.” ISTVÁN BALÁZS * 29

Next

/
  • Elrendezés
  • Igazítás
  • Forgatás
Oldalképek
Tartalom