Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto said Indonesia cannot become a developed nation if it continues relying on the extractive sector.
"Achieving sustainable growth requires advancing research-based industrialization, and the best research comes from campuses," he said in Jakarta on Monday.
He noted that links between university quality and economic performance are widely recognized. He cited China and Malaysia as examples, both with high GDP per capita and strong global university rankings.
Indonesia, he said, currently has only one university in the 101–200 band of the QS World University Rankings, with several others in the 201–500 group.
Yuliarto said Indonesia has a solid foundation, supported by nearly 10 million students and more than 300,000 lecturers, but must convert this strength into competitiveness.
He urged universities to build better talent ecosystems, strengthen research support, and open wider access to frontier technologies.
He also emphasized the need for University 4.0 transformation, pushing campuses to conduct impact-driven research, enhance innovation, and collaborate with industries, local governments, and communities.
"Rectors must act as leaders who mobilize universities to enlighten the nation and ensure campuses can produce excellent talents for Indonesia's strategic industries," he said.
His deputy, Stella Christie, earlier said that under President Prabowo Subianto's directive, the government has raised the research budget by 218 percent from Rp1.4 trillion in 2024 to Rp3.2 trillion (around US$192 million) this year.
She said the increased budget reflects a strong commitment to building a competitive national research ecosystem.
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Translator: Sean F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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