Chair of DPR Commission X invites women to become drivers of practical innovation

Motivating women to innovate, from the domestic environment to becoming proficient researchers, on the occasion of National Awakening Day (Hari Kebangkitan Nasional, Harkitnas).

Samarinda — The DPR RI Commission X invited women in East Kalimantan to play the role of drivers and, at the same time, pioneers of practical innovation in the region.

“We are working with BRIN and BRIDa to awaken women’s motivation to innovate, starting from the home environment to becoming proficient researchers on the occasion of National Awakening Day (Harkitnas),” said Hetifah Sjaifudian, Chair of Commission X, in Samarinda on Thursday.

She explained that the measure is taken so that women can create solutions to various daily problems faced by communities through the application of fit-for-purpose, applicable technology.

In addition, she hopes that women in Kaltim will gain more extensive research literacy from BRIDa and BRIN, and then disseminate it to their surrounding environment on a sustainable basis.

“We are also boosting collaboration on research that focuses on solving specific problems faced by female micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” she said.

Hetifah believes BRIN’s food technology research centre can be optimised to help local MSMEs produce Kalimantan Timur’s traditional culinary fare with long shelf life and high quality.

To address these challenges, she said BRIN now provides a range of programmes, from funding for research to facilitation of higher education scholarships up to doctoral level for women in Kaltim.

Hetifah is optimistic that broader dissemination of results from practical research, such as the development of self-administered health products, will bring significant positive impacts on the welfare of women in the future.