“Our country currently needs to boost research and industrial downstreaming in the fields of science and technology. Universities must become the driving force of this transformation,” he said in the ministry's statement issued here on Saturday.
He noted that Indonesia is in a crucial demographic phase that offers an opportunity to accelerate national progress by increasing per capita income.
“We are still in the middle-income trap. Strong synergy in both basic and applied research is needed to reach the standards of a developed country,” he stated.
According to him, universities must go beyond producing academic research and ensure that downstream efforts result in real impacts for industry and society.
He expressed hope that campuses would emerge as "energic clusters of growth".
Going forward, the government and universities will together increase the mastery of science and technology by up to 12 times the current level, he added.
Therefore, Minister Yuliarto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting universities as the engine for research development, innovation, and downstreaming that is impactful broadly.
This step aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for Indonesia to achieve developed-nation status by 2045.
Meanwhile, University of Indonesia (UI) Rector Heri Hermansyah expressed optimism that research and innovation acceleration can be achieved through stronger inter-campus collaboration.
“Technological sovereignty cannot be separated from optimal research and development. It is expected that all universities across Indonesia can contribute to economic growth based on research and innovation,” he remarked.
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Translator: Sean, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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