BRIN Head Eyes New Innovations to Tackle Water and Energy Crises

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Arif Satria, is eyeing cutting-edge technological innovations to confront the water and energy crises that could threaten the future.

At the Open Session of the Research Professor Inauguration Council in Jakarta on Wednesday, Arif highlighted how droughts are ravaging various parts of the world, even though water crises were once unimaginable on a planet composed of 70 percent water. However, innovations can provide the answer to these problems.

Arif noted that similar approaches could be used to “harvest” energy through the discovery of Metal Organic Frameworks by Japanese scientist Susumu Kitagawa, alongside Omar Yaghi as the 2025 Nobel laureate.

He assessed that both findings must be developed collaboratively to create far better gas storage efficiency for widespread societal needs.

“If this innovation truly develops and becomes massive in society, the energy crisis we face can be properly anticipated,” he stated.

Arif explained that with such efficiency, the use of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder at the household scale, which typically lasts one month, could eventually last two or two and a half months.

To realise this energy efficiency, BRIN is currently beginning research through direct collaboration with Prof Susumu Kitagawa from Kyoto University.

This collaboration is being realised through the establishment of a joint laboratory between Kyoto and BRIN located in Serpong, with the hope of producing new beneficial findings.

“So, many old technologies that are indeed absolute can no longer be maintained and must be replaced with new things,” said Arif Satria.