Minister Brian's Message to Researchers: Don't Go Viral First, Before Your Research Sells

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto advised national researchers and innovators not to be tempted by popularity in the media before the research products they produce are truly marketable.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if we’ve just created a prototype, don’t get excited yet, don’t go viral yet. We often go viral just after making a prototype, even though it’s not necessarily marketable. Only go viral after it’s marketable, because that’s when you’ve truly made money,” said Mendiktisaintek Brian Yuliarto during the kick-off event for the Bestari Saintek Programme and the Launch of the Semesta Scheme under the 2026 State Budget Funding Programme in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Mendiktisaintek Brian assessed that generally, the level of virality is inversely proportional to the success of a research product.

Mendiktisaintek urged researchers to take inspiration from Nobel Prize recipients, who were not known through virality channels.

“The virality comes after receiving the Nobel, because they were busy with their research. So my advice, ladies and gentlemen, is to be serious and diligent, and the paths will open up,” stated Minister Brian.

To boost the morale of Indonesian researchers, he assured that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology has received full support from the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) to support downstreaming efforts in Indonesia.

“Thus, our goal is to deliver truly tangible impacts. Universities as centres of new economic growth, the birth of new industries, can be seen in a time that is not too long,” said Mendiktisaintek Brian Yuliarto.