BRIN Chief: Indonesia Building National Technological Capability

The head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Arif Satria, has asserted that Indonesia is currently focused on building comprehensive national technological capability, rather than simply relying on the creation of various research products. “The message we want to convey is that BRIN does not just have many products; the message is that Indonesia is building national technological capability for food, energy, health, water, defence and security, the environment, industry, and the quality of human resources,” Arif said during a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and 150 BRIN researchers at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday. To realise this solid foundation of capability, Arif revealed that the government, through BRIN, has prepared a research infrastructure ecosystem that is highly adequate and globally recognised. “Mr President, BRIN is building a network of strategic research facilities spread across Indonesia,” he said. The BRIN chief detailed that this network of strategic facilities includes a nuclear reactor, the largest observatory in Southeast Asia, the best genomics laboratory in the region, and a high-performance computing centre ranked among the world’s prestigious top 500. This research capacity is also supported by the presence of various advanced testing facilities covering aircraft, train, and rocket technology, as well as maritime engineering. “This infrastructure is the foundation so that Indonesia not only uses technology but is also able to develop its own technology,” Arif asserted. He further explained that early calculations suggest this technology has the potential to save approximately Rp26 trillion per year on LPG subsidy costs. Arif also noted that national capability is being accelerated in the aerospace sector, including through the design and preparation of the NEO-1 Satellite, which is scheduled for launch into space in early 2027. “This is important for independently producing satellite imagery data to support agriculture, forestry, marine affairs, disaster mitigation, and maritime surveillance,” he said. The BRIN chief stressed that the capability development being pursued is not limited to current technology but also encompasses mastery of future visions, including ensuring human resource readiness for the era of nuclear power utilisation. “BRIN must prepare nuclear technology capabilities now, so that when Indonesia decides to enter the era of nuclear power plants, we do not start entirely from scratch and do not merely become technology buyers,” Arif Satria stated. On the same occasion, President Prabowo Subianto emphasised that mastery of science and technology is the main key to a nation’s progress. “From the mastery of science and technology, of course, education is the foundation, the most critical foundation,” the President asserted.