Science should Form Basis of Development

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

Minister of Research and Technology / Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency Bambang PS Brodjonegoro

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Data from a number of global institutions show that Indonesia still lags behind other countries in building a knowledge and innovation ecosystem. Science, technology and innovation should be the basis for development to create an inclusive innovation-based economy.

The issue was raised during a “Kompas Talk” held with the Knowledge Sector Initiative (KSI) entitled "Improving the Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem for a Better Indonesia" in Jakarta on Tuesday (16/3/2021).

Among the speakers in the discussion were Research and Technology Minister and National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) head Bambang Brodjonegoro, National Development Planning Minister and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) head Suharso Monoarfa, Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) senior researcher Dewi Fortuna Anwar.

The discussion was chaired by Kompas senior editor Ninuk M Pambudy.

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In the 2020 Global Innovation Index, Indonesia was ranked 85th of 124 countries. In the same year, Indonesia was ranked 81st out of 138 countries in the Global Knowledge Index (GKI). Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg data on resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia was ranked 48th out of 53 countries.

Bambang said science should be the basis of national economic development if Indonesia wanted to achieve its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045. If this concept was not implemented, it would be difficult for Indonesia to get out of the category of a lower-middle-income country.

"So far we have focused more on the natural resource-based economy, and second, we have to put emphasis on the efficiency of the economic structure," he said. As a future strategy, said Bambang, development needed to combine elements of innovation and investment. Innovation development could be based on natural resources along with digital technology so Indonesia was not left behind in the Industrial Revolution 4.0., he added.

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The importance of collaboration

In order to encourage this innovation ecosystem, Bambang emphasized the importance of closer relations between scientists and entrepreneurs. He said cooperation between the two parties was partially intended to make scientists understand market needs and vice versa.

The most important thing, he added, was determining how to encourage scientists to make innovations that are competitive and are accepted by the market and the industrial sector.

The government must make regulations that benefit or encourage innovation, one of which should be about funding.

"A regulation is very much needed as an expression of the role of the government in the triple or pentahelix scheme. The government must make regulations that benefit or encourage innovation, one of which should be about funding," he said.

Meanwhile, Suharso said science and innovation had been included as an important component in the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and Law No. 11/2019 on the national system of science and technology.

Kompas/Priyombodo

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He also acknowledged that science and innovation were needed as keys to ensure Indonesia could implement its 2045 vision of becoming an economically advanced country. By making the most of these two factors, it is believed that the vision of shifting the extractive economy to an inclusive, science-based economy can be achieved.

From the bureaucratic sector, Tjahjo Kumolo said the state civil apparatus (ASN) also played an important role in using science as a material for formulating policies and regulations, as well as making decisions. He said his ministry would ensure the implementation of the blueprint for a development and innovation ecosystem through policy support in institutions, management and human resources.

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Dewi Fortuna said the current ecosystem of knowledge and innovation had not been designed to create scientists with capacity and integrity. According to her, scientific behavior can be changed if there is an improvement from the individual side or in the ecosystem that encourages knowledge innovation.

The improvement should be started with the introduction of appropriate incentives, as well as the promotion of academic freedom and an increase in investment in research and development.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.