Solutions from Banua for Indonesia

For South Kalimantan Governor Muhidin, 81 years of Indonesian independence is measured by the ability of regions to deliver solutions for the community. Therefore, development cannot rely solely on budgets or physical projects, but also on innovation that answers real problems. “Innovation is the main foundation for accelerating regional development,” said Muhidin.

According to him, innovation is not merely about creating new technology or applications, but also about delivering more effective working methods, policies, and services that meet the needs of the community. “We are strengthening the innovation ecosystem as an instrument of development based on data, research, and community needs,” he said.

This spirit is realised through the Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA). The South Kalimantan Provincial Government is encouraging regional apparatus organisations to produce breakthroughs that cut bureaucracy, improve public services, reduce poverty, and strengthen competitiveness so that development reaches villages.

One prominent innovation is the digitalisation of public services through the integration of licensing services and the Kalsel Smart Province platform. This system cuts bureaucracy, improves transparency, and makes it easier for the public to access services. Micro, small, and medium enterprises can also process permits more quickly, thereby encouraging investment and regional economic growth.

There is also Si-Apung Kasela, a floating rice cultivation technology that allows farmers to continue planting when their fields are flooded. “South Kalimantan Province’s innovations can make a real contribution to Indonesia’s progress if they are directed at solving community problems, increasing productivity, strengthening public services, and producing solutions that can be applied in other regions,” said Muhidin.

Muhidin is confident that Si-Apung Kasela can become a model for other regions. This spirit is also realised through the Kalsel Innovation Award, which brings together government, universities, businesses, communities, and the public to develop various ideas into applicable solutions.

For Muhidin, innovation must not stop as a pilot project. Innovations that prove effective are evaluated through the Regional Innovation Index (IID) and then institutionalised into policy. Their success is measured by the benefits for public services and community welfare.

He also believes the demographic bonus must be addressed through education, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and mastery of artificial intelligence (AI). In this way, the younger generation will not only be users of technology, but also creators of innovation and jobs.

Nevertheless, Muhidin acknowledged that equitable development remains a challenge after 81 years of Indonesian independence. The gap between urban and rural areas, the quality of human resources, education, health, and internet access still need to be improved so that the benefits of development are felt by all communities.

Amid these challenges, Muhidin views innovation as a way to keep the spirit of independence alive. “We want to ensure that every innovation does not stop at the conceptual stage, but can be implemented and its benefits felt by the wider community,” he said.

According to Muhidin, South Kalimantan’s contribution to Indonesia is not merely about producing many innovations, but also about building a sustainable culture of innovation. If solutions born in his region can be replicated in other areas, innovation will no longer be a local achievement, but part of a collective effort towards a more advanced, self-reliant, and evenly growing Indonesia.