Alleged Research Fraud to Secure Travel Grants: Government and Universities Respond

JAKARTA, Kompas.com - Indonesian researchers face allegations of fabricating data to secure international travel grants, with claims of identity fraud and AI-generated falsifications at a pneumonia conference. Reports indicate that several Indonesian researchers allegedly engaged in misconduct at the 2026 International Society of Pneumonia and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD) conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Two days ago, Thread account @mandharabrasika highlighted irregularities witnessed before thousands of global scientists. One violation noted was identity fraud during presentations. Climate scientist Ida Bagus Mandhara Brasika wrote: “Some Indonesians were caught in organised falsification… one participant allegedly changed their identity during the presentation, including altering their name, hijab, and nametag.”

The researchers are suspected of using artificial intelligence to fabricate data, images, and entire scientific papers. Further irregularities include listed research locations across multiple countries—Andes Mountains (Peru), Ethiopia and South Sudan, Guatemala, Lebanon, Jordan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Nepal, northern India, Kenya, and Malawi—yet the entire team was reportedly solely Indonesian without local collaborators from those nations.

According to the poster, the scheme allegedly aimed to secure travel grants for free international trips.

Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto addressed the allegations, stating: “The Ministry is paying attention to reports of academic integrity and research ethics violations involving institutions affiliated with Indonesia.” He confirmed the ministry is coordinating with relevant parties to verify the facts.