Several Strategic Studies Stalled

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) building, in Jakarta.

The merger of a number of research institutions has not breathed fresh air into research activities in Indonesia. A number of national strategic research programs have been halted.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The merger of state research institutions into the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has hampered national strategic research programs, such as the Merah-Putih Covid-19 vaccine, the Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Combat Drone and salt technology. The transition process did not go well and also confused many researchers, which in turn affected the development of technological studies.

A number of researchers from various research organizations have communicated their complaints about the deterioration of the research ecosystem in separate interviews at the BRIN this week, to coincide with National Technology Awakening Day on Wednesday (10/8/2022).

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The interview results have supported the findings of the Society for the Advancement of Science and Technology (MPI), as stated by MPI member Maxensius Tri Sambodo, who is also a researcher at the BRIN Center for Behavioral and Circular Economics.

The MPI's findings were also submitted to Vice President Ma'ruf Amin on 17 March 2022 and to Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) during a meeting on 28 March 2022.

Among these are the cessation of national strategic research programs that were previously run by a number of research institutions, such as the MALE Combat Drone, the Study on the Tsunami Early Warning and Application Program, salt technology, and the Merah-Putih Covid-19 vaccine

The MPI's findings include a number of negative reports from the merger of research institutions into the BRIN as having eroded Indonesia's competitiveness in research and technology. Among these are the cessation of national strategic research programs that were previously run by a number of research institutions, such as the MALE Combat Drone, the Study on the Tsunami Early Warning and Application Program, salt technology, and the Merah-Putih Covid-19 vaccine.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Researchers from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) observed fruit and medicinal plants at the Natural Materials Chemistry Laboratory, Science and Technology Research Center (Puspiptek), Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday (30/4/2019).

Akhmad Farid, a researcher at the BRIN Center for Aviation Technology, said research and engineering on drone technology for defense purposes, which had started in 2015, had been stopped.

Farid, a former assistant chief engineer for MALE Combat Drone development at the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), said the drone project was initiated to make Indonesia independent in manufacturing unmanned military aircraft. President Joko Widodo, in his directive to Research and Technology Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro in early February 2020, asked that the target time for mass production of the MALE drone be accelerated from 2024 to 2022.

The Defense and Security Hangar at the Research Center for Science and Technology (Puspiptek) in Serpong, which was previously the site for testing drone structure and various aerospace research activities, looked abandoned and deserted on Friday (5/8/2022). Some items in wooden crates and idle equipment were observed in the hangar, while the computers that remained were stored in the warehouse.

PUSPIPTEK.RISTEKDIKTI.GO.ID

One of the new buildings in the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek), Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten.

Building 256, where the researchers used to work, was also quiet. On the third floor of the building, only a few janitors were seen cleaning the coworking space, which was closed off by a red-and-white barrier.

Difficult to adapt

According to Farid, all BRIN researchers, including engineers, were now required to conduct basic research with the ultimate goal of producing scientific papers as the only performance indicator. This made it difficult for former BPPT employees to adapt.

The BRIN does not take into account the presence of engineers, who are all treated as researchers. In fact, according to Farid, BPPT personnel are mostly engineers, whose ultimate goal is to produce technological innovations and products.

Agustan, the former head of the BPPT Center for Regional Resource Development Technology who is now a BRIN researcher, also complained about this condition. Agustan said that when he was still at the BPPT, he was assigned to research and engineering projects every year to support the government’s programs.

One of his tasks was to create a rice development reporting system, which has been used nationwide since 2018/2019. "We researched and produced papers as well, and then produced prototypes that used information technology. That's what has been used until now," he said.

FRANSISKUS WISNU W DANY UNTUK KOMPAS

The atmosphere of the 3rd Indonesia Science Expo (ISE) in 2018 which took place at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition ICE), Tangerang, Banten, on Friday (2/11/2018).

However, with the BPPT’s merger into the BRIN, research efforts to produce applied products were more difficult. ”The concept at the BRIN seems good because researchers are free to conduct research, make proposals according to their personal interests with the aim of producing papers. However, this does not necessarily answer the needs of the nation and the public," he said.

President Joko Widodo had encouraged research and innovation focusing on the food and energy sector, as well as health and the environment.

Meanwhile, BRIN head Laksana Tri Handoko was only available for an interview on Thursday (11/8) regarding the one-year merger of research institutions into the BRIN. While celebrating the 27th anniversary of National Technology Awakening Day on Wednesday (10/8), Laksana said that since the beginning of BRIN’s establishment, President Joko Widodo had encouraged research and innovation focusing on the food and energy sector, as well as health and the environment.

“We will start with food and energy derived from local [raw] materials. We already have the capital," he said.

KOMPAS/DEONISIA ARLINTA

BRIN head Laksana Tri Handoko

According to BRIN Steering Committee secretary Sudhamek Agoeng Waspodo Soenjoto, innovation was an absolute must for Indonesia to become a developed country.

“If we fail (as a developed country), the one most responsible for innovation is the BRIN. So, let's use the momentum of this technology awakening day to truly wake up. It's not just a ceremony," said Marsudi Wahyu Kisworo, a member of the BRIN Steering Committee. (AIK/TAN/MTK)