Innovation is Not Simple

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

A student leaves the former temporary buildings that housed SDN 2 Malaka elementary school on Thursday (14/11/2019) in Pemenang district, North Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara. The school moved that day into its new facilities, which was built to replace the building destroyed in the Lombok earthquake of August 2018 and funded by Kompas readers through the Kompas Humanitarian Fund.

At the moment, the term innovation has become very familiar to the ear. Some people also necessitate the concept echoed by Joseph A Schumpeter (1912) for businesses.

The business that wants to survive, or wants to be sustainable, must continue to echo innovation in itself. We frequently hear the slogan "innovate or die" in various forums.

Meanwhile, among the many people who believe in the inevitability of innovation, not a few do not understand exactly the meaning of innovation and how the process should be carried out. What is also no less important is what kind of environment is needed for innovation to be fruitful.

The latest issue of innovation was raised by Research and Technology Minister Bambang S Brodjonegoro at the 21st Habibie Award on Tuesday (12/11/2019) in Jakarta. Bambang said that in line with the classical thesis, in order to become a country with a strong economy, Indonesia could no longer depend on natural resources but must develop innovation. He also further said that, in order to realize it, it takes superior human resources (HR) through consistency in the development of science and research in specific fields (Kompas, 13/11/2019).

He touched the need for appreciation so that researchers consistently develop their knowledge.

On the other hand, Bambang also acknowledged that the current conditions do not yet support researchers’ efforts to focus on their research so that research is not optimal. He touched the need for appreciation so that researchers consistently develop their knowledge.

Bambang mentioned the triple helix synergy, namely between the government, universities and business entities. Today, in the context of expanding stakeholders, this understanding is often extended to pentahelix by including the community and mass media.

Following the discourse of innovation in the country, this concept has actually resonated widely in various forums. In fact, in the era of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a National Innovation Committee had been formed alongside the National Economic Committee. During the New Order administration, the link and match program was also introduced, which illustrates the close links between the business world and education, facilitated by the government.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Bambang Permadi Soemantri Brodjonegoro, who also heads the National Research and Innovation Agency, speaks at the Habibie Award 2019 on Tuesday (12/11/2019) at Le Meridien Hotel, Jakarta. The five awardees are (from left, seated): I Gusti Ngurah Putu Wijaya, Ivandini Tribidasari Anggraningrum, Adi Utarini, Tati Latifah Erawati Rajab and Eko Prasojo.

Besides that, various seminars and literature on innovation have also emerged. The question that arises is: Why have the fruits of innovation not been as we expect? In fact, the economic potential in this country is huge. A number of citizens of this country also produce innovations that shake the world, including those used by multinational business entities.

The answer may be because to this day we are together, not only the government, but also the business world, universities, the community and the media have not consistently encouraged the birth of innovation through the development of science and research in specific fields. Political policies are still dominant.