The BRIN is tasked with mapping the needs of science and technology and preparing invention and innovations that will be used for solving development problemsJakarta (ANTARA) - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) should be in a position to support Indonesia's national development program through research outcomes and innovations that are indispensable for policy-making processes, a senior scientist stated.
"The BRIN is tasked with mapping the needs of science and technology and preparing invention and innovations that will be used for solving development problems," senior researcher of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Siti Zuhro remarked.
In conversation with ANTARA regarding the swearing-in of Laksono Tri Handoko as the new head of BRIN to replace Bambang P. S. Brodjonegoro on Wednesday, Zuhro noted that the government had clarified BRIN's position to serve as an autonomous agency.
To this end, the BRIN is demanded to focus on research and innovation that can help boost Indonesia's development progress, she remarked.
The agency is, however, challenged by the fact that research and development units are available at various ministries, governmental bodies, and regional administrations.
In addressing this reality, the BRIN must be able to manage and integrate them, so that they can be more effective, Zuhro noted, adding that a research and innovation ecosystem also needs both products and utilization of invention and innovation and development budget in addition to intermediate support and technology transfer.
The BRIN is challenged to be able to create an innovation-based economy, facilitate bureaucratic reforms, and expedite the research and innovation ecosystem, according to Zuhro.
The agency is necessitated to boost Indonesia's economic structure to enable it to clock an economic growth averaging at least five percent until 2025 and a six-percent growth after 2025.
"The problem is that as a new autonomous agency, the BRIN must firstly cope with nomenclature-related issues before being able to implement its programs. One year or more is required for the handling of nomenclature-related issues," she noted.
Meanwhile, Rector of the Yogyakarta-based University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) Panut Mulyono opined that the BRIN must soon have a program in place that may enable it to coordinate the research and development units at various ministries.
Moreover, the BRIN should also be allocated a huge budget to enable it to boost research projects whose outcomes can be developed to be marketable products, he stated.
On Wednesday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appointed Handoko as the BRIN head to replace Brodjonegoro.
Handoko took his oath of office at a swearing-in ceremony held at the State Palace in Jakarta along with Nadiem Makarim, who was appointed as the minister for education, culture, research, and technology, and Bahlil Lahadalia, who was sworn-in as the investment minister.
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Translator: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
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