Don't let this pandemic condition make our efforts to get out of that trap recedeJakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Research and Technology (Menristek), Bambang PS Brodjonegoro, has said efforts to revive the Indonesian economy and prevent a deeper contraction amid the COVID-19 pandemic would focus on four areas.
"We want to respond to various problems, and, at the same time, (we) want to prevent a deeper contraction in our economy. As a research and innovation community, we must also have more focused steps. We are trying to define these steps into four focuses, the first is overcoming COVID-19 and the economic recovery itself, " Bambang said at an online seminar, broadcast from Jakarta on Wednesday.
He made the remarks at the ‘Thee Kian Wie Lecture Series V’ seminar themed ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Development Policy: Post-Pandemic Recovery Strategy’, organized by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
The Minister, who is concurrently Chairman of the Natiional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said the prevention of COVID-19 and bringing about an economic recovery would involve a combination of efforts carried out by parties engaged in research, health, and pharmacy sectors, and also economic revival initiatives, especially in relation to digital transformation.
The next three steps would pertain to strengthening the nation's competitiveness, getting out of the middle-income trap, and achieving inclusive development, he noted.
"Of course, this is a long-term way to get out of the middle-income trap. Don't let this pandemic condition make our efforts to get out of that trap recede," said Bambang, who served as head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) in 2016-2019.
Minister Bambang said that Indonesia needs to ensure inclusive development, even amid the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the economy of Indonesia and many countries in the world, he noted.
To that end, Minister Bambang said, the research and innovation community and institutions that carry out research, development, assessment ,and implementation activities must focus on four efforts, namely, strengthening the innovation ecosystem, optimizing the use of research budgets, increasing the ability to adopt technology and innovation, and utilizing science and technology to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth.
One of the concrete steps taken by the Ministry of Research and Technology in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic has been the formation of a COVID-19 Research and Innovation Consortium, he stated.
The consortium is a collaboration between the government, universities, non-ministerial government agencies, industry, diaspora, professional associations, and hospitals.
Minister Bambang said research and innovation activities carried out by the consortium are aimed at dealing with COVID-19 and its impacts from various aspects.
A total of 61 research and innovation products, which have emerged from the consortium's activities, have been launched to combat COVID-19, including PCR test kits, rapid test kits, Autonomous UVC Mobile Robot, conventional blood plasma, artificial intelligence systems for COVID-19 detection, immunomodulators, BSL-2 mobile labs, ventilators, and the air-powered purifying respirator.
The launch of the consortium's products can be interpreted as a revival of Indonesian innovation, Bambang noted.
It is hoped that domestic research and innovation products can answer the needs of the Indonesian people, not only during the pandemic, but also in the long term, he remarked. (INE)
Related news: Infrastructure development aimed to speed up economic recovery: Jokowi
Related news: Govt allocates Rp356.5 trillion to support national economic recovery
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Martha H, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
