Ahmad Najib Burhani, Head of the BRIN's Social and Humanity Sciences Organization, said that a research hub could boost the friendly ties among countries in Southeast Asia and optimize the region's mobility potential to the fullest.
"We (ASEAN) can 'decenter' and 'decolonize' the Southeast Asian region by becoming the world's new science power," he added, according to a statement released in Jakarta on Saturday.
He further elaborated that by establishing its own hub, ASEAN could emerge as a competitor for countries in Europe, America, and also Australia, which have been widely known as the world's science spearheads.
Burhani also expressed optimism that such a hub could help ASEAN become a center for industry and science, boosting its capability of contributing to the world of science.
"The proximity (among ASEAN countries) can make the Southeast Asian region the world's new power in the fields of science, economy, and others," he highlighted.
Related news: BRIN wants to be collaboration hub for researchers in Southeast Asia
Furthermore, he also underlined ASEAN's huge population of approximately 670 million people, which is a strategic asset for the bloc.
ASEAN, which is currently being chaired by Indonesia, has rich biodiversity potential, which can be optimized if member countries collectively develop and conduct research on the potential, he added.
He then outlined a number of potential cooperation schemes that can be undertaken by ASEAN researchers, such as conducting research on biodiversity, climate change, and environmental issues.
BRIN head Laksana Tri Handoko made a similar statement earlier in May 2023 and expressed the agency's determination to become a collaborative research hub for ASEAN.
"Through the researcher mobility program, we want to make BRIN a collaborative hub for ASEAN countries, especially for the purpose of research in biodiversity, nuclear, and space fields," he said at a press conference in Jakarta on May 7, 2023.
Related news: Indonesian youngster receives ASEAN champions of biodiversity award
Related news: RI youth organization wins ASEAN champions biodiversity award
Translator: Sugiharto Purnama, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
