Citing Habibie, Prabowo Says Indonesia Needs More 'Smart People' in Science and Tech

President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that Indonesia needs more high-quality human resources in science and technology to drive the nation’s revival.

The Head of State also quoted the third President of the Republic of Indonesia, BJ Habibie, regarding the great potential of smart people in Indonesia.

This was conveyed by Prabowo in a briefing before 150 researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in the grounds of the Merdeka Palace on Thursday, 6 August 2026.

“So we look for the cause first, then we must dare to act. Science and technology, we need smart people, many smart people. I remember Professor Habibie said, okay we don’t need to be afraid, just 1 percent of smart people in Indonesia, just 1 percent is almost 3 million people,” said Prabowo.

The Head of State assessed that Indonesia has good human resources. However, this potential must be sought, nurtured, given opportunities, and supported so that it can produce innovations for the nation’s progress.

“So actually we have a lot of raw material. But yes, whatever we have, you scientists must seek it, nurture it, give it opportunities, develop it, support it through a process,” he said.

Prabowo stressed that Indonesia’s revival must be built with a scientific and rational approach. According to him, an approach not based on rationality has the potential to produce wrong decisions.

“So our approach to the revival of a nation, the revival of a nation that all our founding fathers aspired to, including all of our aspirations, is how to have a country where there is no poverty, how to have a country without injustice,” he said.

“Now if we approach it in a scientific way, a rational way, don’t use any way other than rational, yes. Otherwise we will be mistaken. Rational, science, mathematics, reality. Reality is science, reality is mathematics. Yes, if we approach it with other patterns, that has entered another realm,” Prabowo continued.