The Opportunity to Establish Innovation Independence

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Simple and Low Cost Prototype Mechanical Ventilator made by the Sepuluh November Technology Institute at the ITS Robotics Building, Surabaya, East Java, Tuesday (7/4/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The COVID-19 pandemic should be used as an opportunity for Indonesia to establish independence in research and innovation programs. With strong collaboration, researchers in Indonesia have the capability to create superior innovations. However, innovation must go through scientific procedures so as not to sacrifice public security.

The deputy head of the translational division of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Research and Technology Ministry, David Handojo Muljono, emphasized the importance of research in coping with COVID-19.

"Research is the answer because many mysteries have not been revealed," he said in Jakarta on Saturday.

Read also: Promising Progress on Covid-19 Medical Research

According to the government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto, as of Sunday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has reached 54,010. Of the total number, 22,936 patients have recovered and 2,754 people have died.

To accelerate the handling of the pandemic, research and innovation related to COVID-19 are needed but they need support from all parties, he said. According to David, a number of elements must be considered, including public trust, support from government and funders and a mechanism to license innovative works.

Research is also an important way to develop COVID-19 handling protocols.

Subjects of researches that can be carried out are very broad, covering genetics, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and therapy. This opportunity must be utilized by Indonesian researchers to prove their capability to innovate.

The availability of large funds did not help to meet the needs of health facilities, such as personal protective equipment, due to large demand from all countries.

Meanwhile, a professor at the School of Medicine at Gadjah Mada University, Sofia Mubarika Haryana, said the handling of the pandemic showed the nation\'s independence related to innovation, especially in the health sector. The availability of large funds did not help to meet the needs of health facilities, such as personal protective equipment, due to large demand from all countries.

"COVID-19 is a serious problem. On the other hand, this pandemic arouses the spirit of national collaboration that is manifested in the rise in national researches, " she said.

KOMPAS/DEONISIA ARLINTA

Deputy head of the translational division of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Research and Technology Ministry, David Handojo Muljono.

A number of studies to find the COVID-19 vaccine have brought hope to the people. The Eijkman Institute is at the forefront of vaccine research.

"We started late and got the mandate in March 2020. If there are no obstacles, a COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia will be ready early next year,” the head of the institute Amin Soebandrio said in Jakarta on Sunday.

According to Amin, Eijkman researchers had completed the foundation for the development of a vaccine.

"We have succeeded in developing recombinant proteins from this virus. This is only 10 to 20 percent of the total vaccine completion, but it will determine its future development," he said.Read also: Bandung, Home of Covid-19 Innovations

For vaccine research, Eijkman received Rp 5.2 billion (US$ 365,982) through the Research and Technology Ministry. Although a number of prospective vaccines abroad are entering the stage of testing in humans, a COVID-19 vaccine made in Indonesia is still needed.

"If a vaccine is successfully developed abroad, it must be tested in Indonesia," he said.

Various innovations

Researchers at a number of universities have also made various innovations related to COVID-19. Padjadjaran University of Bandung (Unpad), for example, has produced supporting equipment for COVID-19 testing, ranging from testing kits to transport modules through a collaboration between the university with a number of parties. One of the tools it produced is a COVID-19 test kit.

The secretary of the center for molecular biotechnology and informatics at the university, Muhammad Yusuf, said the tool could detect the possible presence of the novel coronavirus in the human body.

ITS researchers created a robotic medical assistant called ITS-Airlangga or Raisa Robot and an emergency ventilator.

Researchers from the 10 November Institute of Technology (ITS) and Airlangga University (Unair) in Surabaya, East Java, have jointly created innovative tools to overcome COVID-19. ITS researchers created a robotic medical assistant called ITS-Airlangga or Raisa Robot and an emergency ventilator.

ANTARA/MOCH ASIM

The research team of the Sepuluh November Technology Institute (ITS) tested the air pump engine (ventilator) at the ITS Robotics Center Building, Surabaya, East Java, Tuesday (7/4/2020).

Meanwhile, researchers at Unair have also developed the rapid diagnostics test CoG-19 IgG/IgM. According to computer engineering teacher and ITS robot development team member Muhtadin, Raisa is a healthcare robot.

Researchers at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta have conducted 119 studies to cope with COVID-19, including health, social humanities and endurance.

"This has been done since the beginning of COVID-19," said the secretary of UGM’s research department, Mirwan Ushada.

Meanwhile, researchers at PT Bio Farma have produced a Bio Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) mobile laboratory, which can be used to carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab testing at the sample collection site.

This requires the role of researchers, the government and industries.

However, the commercialization of various innovations is a challenge. The chairman of the National Research Council, Bambang Setiadi, warned that the work of researches could be called an innovation if it could be commercialized. This requires the role of researchers, the government and industries.

In a discussion held by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) on Sunday, the speakers warned that innovations related to COVID-19 must be made in accordance with scientific procedures, including clinical trials so as not to endanger the public.

The director of the drug registration department of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency, Rizka Andalucia, said consumers had the right to use drugs safely. Each drug must, therefore, be tested for efficacy and safety. (TAN/AIK/ MED/ RTG/ TAM /SYA/HRS/MZW )

AP PHOTO/LAURENT CIPRIANI

French President Emmanuel Macron listens to a researcher as he visits an industrial development laboratory at French drugmaker\'s vaccine unit Sanofi Pasteur plant in Marcy-l\'Etoile, near Lyon, central France, Tuesday, June 16, 2020.The visit comes after rival pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca this weekend announced a deal to supply 400 million vaccine doses to EU countries, including France.