"The cross-sectoral collaboration is urgently needed in responding to the challenges of innovation requirements. The strategic industrial sector needs become a priority because it requires support from research and developers to encourage the creation of innovations based on research outcomes of the education sector," Minister Makarim noted in a written statement received here on Thursday.
It is in line with the national focus and priority, which was pursued through the ministry's Freedom in Learning vision that led to the creation of the Kedaireka (Kedaulatan Indonesia dalam Reka Cipta; Indonesia's Sovereignty Through Innovation) platform as a means to encourage downstream-applied research innovation and creation through collaboration with business and industry sectors, as well as activating the pentahelix innovation ecosystem comprising academia, industry, government, community, and media.
To improve the innovation collaboration ecosystem, Kedaireka initiated the 2022 Matchmaking Innovation Forum (MMIF) that brought up the theme of "Indonesia Innovation Outlook 2023: Improving Collaborative Research and Sustainable Strategic Innovation" in Surabaya, Wednesday, December 14.
This event, hosted in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Cooperation (KeRIs) program from the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry, aims to facilitate meetings between the business sector and the best innovators and researchers from universities in Indonesia.
Director general of research and technology at the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry Nizam said that the Matchmaking Innovation Forum is part of the Kedaireka ecosystem that provided opportunities for the industry, government, and NGOs to meet, exchange ideas, and collaborate with civitas academia right away.
"The ultimate goal of this activity is to increase the potential for collaboration between industry players and university people," he explained.
The activity was divided into three sessions: Plenary Session, Matchmaking Session, and Networking Session. Matchmaking Sessions comprised four categories, with focus on discussions on topics of Green and Blue Initiative; Food and Health Security; Tourism, Logistics and Infrastructure; and Digital Technology and Finance.
The event was expected to facilitate exchange of the latest information related to challenges, requirements, research results, and innovations in increasing the potential matching rate in strategic research and development programs, especially in the 2023 Matching Fund Program.
Acting Secretary of the directorate general of higher education, research and technology at the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry Tjitjik Sri Tjahjandarie expected that the event could boost potential collaborations through networking sessions between industry players from state companies and researchers or heads of universities.
Chairperson of the Kedaireka Mahir Bayasut expected an increase in the matching rate scale for collaborative proposals in the Kedaireka Matching Fund Program and also an increase in opportunities for downstream research results.
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Translator: Indriani, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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