"We have made a funding commitment of approximately 8 million pounds to stimulate the collaboration of science and technology communities of both countries," he said, while giving a speech during the first anniversary celebrations of the partnership fund, named UK-Indonesia Science and Technology Fund, in the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education Office in Jakarta, on Wednesday.
He stated that Indonesias future expectation was to increase competitiveness in the international arena of human resources to compete on the world stage, including the world of research, innovation, and technology.
Therefore, the research funding should be fully utilized to create research results useful for the welfare of society.
"Hence, this is actually a collaboration of equal partners. When we started the program, we committed two million pounds a year from the UK side for funding, and actually this year, we have already increased it by 33 percent to three million pounds a year," he pointed out.
As the United Kingdom has increased its financing commitment on the research development, he hoped that there will be many applicable and useful research results for responding to global challenges and society needs.
"Our role as the UK is to witness Indonesia that is strong, independent, internationally competitive, as well as having a successful economy," he noted.
The partnership fund was launched in March 2016 and will last until 2021.
He said that the United Kingdom will continue to prioritize the development in the sectors of science, technology, and innovation.
"We realize that science and innovation will generate solutions to global challenges. The resources that we have allocated for the benefit of science have become an investment for a mutually beneficial partnership for both countries in the future," he revealed.
The ambassador revealed that Indonesia used the funding assistance and allocated its budget to fund talented researchers who can conduct joint research of international standard.
"The hope of this partnership is to generate research on technology and tangible innovation, which would benefit the people of Indonesia, as well as create a scientific culture and research culture with international standard," he said.
As many as 11 joint research projects had been completed last year through the funding commitment.
In 2017, as many as 10 new research projects will be funded.
He hoped there will be 11 more new research projects to be financed.
"Therefore, when we commit money to Indonesia, we are looking for the Indonesian government, industries, and universities to match our commitment. Hence, this is an equal partnership that is very important," he remarked.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
