BRIN brings research downstreaming closer to improve village welfare
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is conducting the ‘BRIN Goes to Villages’ activity as a platform to bring research laboratories closer to the actual needs of the community, while simultaneously strengthening villages as centres of economic growth based on science and technology (S&T).
Speaking in Jakarta on Thursday, the Head of BRIN, Arif Satria, stated that Indonesia’s development cannot succeed without the progress of its villages. Therefore, the research outcomes developed by researchers must be able to address real societal issues, ranging from food security and environmental management to the development of micro-enterprises and more effective and transparent village governance.
“Villages must not merely be objects of development. Villages must be subjects as well as new growth centres capable of driving local economies based on knowledge, technology, and innovation,” he said.
Arif noted that Indonesia possesses more than 75,000 villages that hold great potential as engines of national development. However, various challenges—such as limited access to technology, low economic productivity, sub-optimal environmental management, and limited human resource capacity—remain tasks that must be addressed collectively.
Through the Innovation Village Programme, BRIN aims to ensure that research results are present and provide tangible benefits to the community. Arif explained that an advanced village is not merely one with good infrastructure, but one capable of utilising science and technology to enhance the welfare of its people.
Consequently, he is encouraging the strengthening of village community capacity to be more adaptive to technological developments while being able to develop their existing local potential. According to him, innovation-based village development requires strong cross-sector synergy, as no single institution can work alone in building independent and competitive villages.
He stated that BRIN serves as a link between the research world and the development needs faced by the community. “Collaboration is key. BRIN provides research and technology-based solutions, while local governments, ministries, the business world, and the community act as partners in ensuring these innovations can be implemented and deliver a real impact,” concluded Arif Satamin.