The infrastructure must be world-class; thus, we have prepared the plan to improve facilities.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has established and improved research infrastructure with sophisticated equipment to encourage the Indonesian diaspora and foreign researchers to conduct studies in Indonesia, the agency’s head, Laksana Tri Handoko, said.

"We have made a further attempt to attract international researchers to do their research in Indonesia,” he remarked at the inauguration of the Integrated Oceanographic Research Laboratory (LATERIO) here on Tuesday.

The attempt is aimed at increasing Indonesia's competitiveness in science, innovation, and research activities in various sectors to increase research output that can advance the welfare of the Indonesian people, he explained.

In addition, the implementation of collaborative research and knowledge transfer activities among various parties can also improve the capacity of Indonesia's human resources, he said.

Currently, BRIN owns a number of strategic research infrastructure, for instance, the LATERIO, he pointed out.

The oceanographic laboratory is equipped with the latest and advanced equipment, such as automatic digital microscopes, trinocular stereo microscopes, compound microscopes with phase contrast, fluorescence microscopes, and fluorescence imaging systems, he informed.

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Furthermore, there is also a Genomics Laboratory, which is equipped with the latest research instruments for biotechnology and molecular engineering, he added.

In addition, the agency has an oceanographic research vessel as well as an Integrated Laboratory of Bioproduct (iLab), he pointed out.

All infrastructure established and managed by BRIN is open for all parties, including domestic and international researchers and academics as well as business actors, Handoko said. He then invited them to collaborate in conducting research in Indonesia.

"The infrastructure must be world-class; thus, we have prepared the plan to improve facilities," he stated.

The establishment of LATERIO was assisted by the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program-Coral Triangle Initiative (COREMAP-CTI), which was funded by the World Bank, Handoko said.

Meanwhile, funding for the procurement of the oceanographic research vessel was arranged with the assistance of French public financial institution, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), he added.

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Translator: Martha Simanjuntak, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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