Research should give birth to innovation: minister

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani stated that a research should give birth to innovation.

"There are still many researches that are not utilized by the community and industry," Maharani said here on Wednesday.

The senior minister noted that the government is formulating the National Research Master Plan.

The Master Plan is intended to make the research useful to the industry and society.

In addition, the government has also allocated Rp1 trillion in the 2019 state budget in an attempt to strengthen the research.

"The government has also accelerated the improvement of human resources," the minister added.

The government made some strategic steps to improve the human resources, namely expanding recipients of Bidikmisi, a state-sponsored scholarship program that aims to support talented students facing financial difficulties; revitalization of vocational schools; strengthening National Research; and developing the benefits of the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) funds for training.

On that occasion, Maharani also urged the faculty of mathematics and science at the University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) to prepare the students to face the fourth industrial revolution.

The University of Indonesia, she noted, should focus on the research that can be utilized by the society and the industry in the future.

Managing Director of Sinarmas Saleh Husin explained that the company poured funds amounting to Rp7 billion to complete all the equipments in the laboratory of the faculty of mathematics and science at University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI).

"We continue to encourage the creation of cross-sector research. As a result, the research can be beneficial for both industry and society," he pointed out.