"The synergy and collaboration in the Koneksi program can strengthen the research ecosystem in both countries," he stated at the launch of the Koneksi program in Jakarta on Monday.
According to Makarim, the partnership will last for the next five years and aims to strengthen partnerships involving universities, research institutions, the scientific community, and the academic community in both countries as an effort to build a scientific culture and develop science and technology.
This program will facilitate universities and research institutions in innovative research activities, especially for collaboration between institutions and scientific communities affiliated with universities and non-university research institutions, he remarked.
The Koneksi program follows the principles of equality and inclusiveness by involving all parties, including research institutions and the scientific community having good capacity and high competence in research fields that are relevant for development, he stated.
The minister is optimistic that multi-party collaboration among researchers, industry players, and policymakers can make an important contribution to the development of science, technology, and innovation.
He remarked that the program involves three main stakeholders from the Indonesian government, namely the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN).
These three ministries and agencies along with the Australian government are responsible for providing strategic direction regarding policy and implementation of the program, he stated.
Makarim remarked that the concept of the Koneksi program was in line with the breakthrough of the Independent Learning Independent Campus (MBKM), namely the Kedaireka platform that was launched in 2020.
He noted that the Kedaireka platform also encourages cross-sectoral collaboration between universities and the industry to conduct joint research and joint projects through the support of the Matching Fund.
"The Kedaireka platform has connected more than 15 thousand collaborations and created a more independent research and innovation culture," he stated.
Makarim also expressed hope that the Koneksi program, which makes research and innovation as the foundation of science and policy, would support university research results to have a broader and more useful impact.
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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul H, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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