Rosan Stresses Research and Industry Collaboration to Boost Downstreaming

Investment and Downstreaming Minister/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Rosan Roeslani has stressed the importance of collaboration between the research sector and industry as a key to accelerating downstreaming that can generate added value for the national economy. According to Rosan in an official statement in Jakarta on Sunday, investment and downstreaming not only aim to increase the added value of natural resources but also serve as a foundation for realising a productive, transparent, and competitive national industry that provides tangible benefits for workers’ welfare. He affirmed that Indonesia’s downstreaming policy direction must create a sustainable industrial ecosystem. Incoming investment is not only measured by the amount of capital but also by its ability to create quality jobs, increase national productivity, strengthen technological mastery, and provide greater added value for the national economy. This was conveyed by Rosan while delivering a keynote speech at the 2026 National Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI) organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology at Hall B of the Jakarta International Convention Centre (JICC) on Saturday (27/6). “We believe that the presence of academics and students at universities, especially in the research and development field, provides a very, very positive contribution. Therefore, we just need to think about future collaboration so that the positive outcomes generated from investment and downstreaming can be implemented in existing industries and produce extraordinary benefits,” said Rosan. Rosan revealed that the downstreaming policy has shown positive results. Throughout 2025, Indonesia’s investment realisation reached Rp1,931.2 trillion, growing 12.7 per cent year-on-year, while exceeding the government’s target with a 101.3 per cent achievement rate. This realisation also successfully absorbed more than 2.7 million direct workers, an increase of 10.4 per cent compared to the previous year. He added that the connection between research activities and industrial needs is an important factor in building a healthy and sustainable national industry. “Research that is connected to industry is one of the important factors in building a healthy and sustainable industry. Regulatory certainty, good governance, and ease of doing business will increase investor confidence while creating fair business competition,” he added. To strengthen the national innovation ecosystem, the government has prepared a Super Tax Deduction incentive of up to 300 per cent for research and development activities, and up to 200 per cent for education and training activities. Rosan stated that this policy will provide optimal benefits if accompanied by a commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in producing innovations that can be applied in the industrial sector. He also emphasised that improving the quality of human resources is an inseparable part of the national downstreaming agenda. Industrial development, he said, must go hand in hand with improving workforce competence through training, research, skills strengthening, occupational safety, and the creation of harmonious industrial relations.