Prabowo Assembles Campus Intellectuals into New Task Force to Accelerate National Strategy
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, to form a task force comprising professors, academics, and researchers to accelerate the government’s strategic policy targets. Brian stated that the task force would coordinate with relevant ministries to provide input. “The President asked us to form a task force or working group whose core will consist of academics, professors, and researchers from universities and BRIN to conduct further studies together with the relevant technical ministries,” Brian said after the closing of the National Science, Technology, and Industry Convention in Jakarta on Sunday.
Brian noted that Prabowo places great importance on the role of science, technology, research, and innovation as the foundation for the nation’s progress. He likened the nation to a large ship where all components must unite and work hand in hand. “Differing views are normal. The President stated that universities are places of academic freedom. Ideas can be studied and discussed together on campus. The hope is that these studies are ultimately aimed at finding solutions and accelerating the progress and self-reliance of the Indonesian nation,” he explained.
During the same event, Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Arif Satria, revealed that BRIN and the ministry are currently drafting a national research roadmap to serve as a reference for research in Indonesia up to 2045. Arif emphasised that the direction of research would provide a vision for future technological development and guide the country’s industrialisation, ensuring it is based on data and research projections rather than mere common sense. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi added that the research roadmap must be part of a grand design that delivers a positive impact on the wider community, citing examples such as the transition from LPG to CNG and waste-to-energy solutions. Pras stated that Prabowo views universities as home to the smartest people in the nation and wants to invite the entire academic community to work together to solve the country’s problems.