An overview of BRIN
With researches having been done for long, the birth of BRIN, which is believed to help shape up future development, prompts further question concerning what fields the researches are to undertake.
It is not an insight into the intricacies of doing research. Neither is the substance about how to do research, which is the experts’ privilege in the realm. Universities produce a lot of them. Most of them serve at government institutions.
Debate over the low ratio of researchers to population has been persistent. The same is in the case of standardization, qualifications or criteria over who deserves to be called a researcher.
Likewise, the debate about research funding that is far from ideal and the argument about the ratio to gross domestic product (GDP) that is still far from ideal have also been swirling for years.
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It\'s not about the research kitchen menu or the chefs and how they work the recipe. This article is more about the aspects of policy management and environmental requirements.
What to research?
With the field of research changing, perhaps the most relevant and most important question is what kind of research is being pursued? To look into the matter with more detail we can ask what and which research strategies are to be used.
Research is now under the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Seen from an institutional perspective, will BRIN truly become the authority that determines the direction, choice and priority of research so that research activities run concretely and effectively?
Or is it more like a research council or a ministry, under which the field of research used to be, as a collector of proposals for plans and programs, that at the end it is only engrossed in bureaucratic work and paperwork is not going anywhere?
Referring to the rationale as mentioned in the chapter on consideration letter b and article 1 point 1 of the Presidential Regulation No. 33/2021, it seems that BRIN is only an institution in "new clothes" but with the same old mechanisms.
The provisions of article 3 of the presidential regulation present BRIN as the implementing agency, supervisor, controller and coordinator of research activities. The formulation of the steering boarsd\'s tasks in article 6 also refers to BRIN as research policymaker.
The executive organizational structure in article 9 stipulates that the BRIN’s functions and tasks cover almost all fields, including humanities. With this setting, the question is not answered yet.
Apart from “new clothes”, instead of thinking about “reform” of research, the formation of BRIN has appeared more as an effort to streamline research institutions and perhaps their work staff.
Apart from the Assessment and Application of Technology Agency (BPPT), the integration of several research institutions such as the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan), and the National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) into BRIN (article 62 in relation to article 69 of the presidential regulation) also only provides a vague explanation to the question.
Not to mention many other aspects that make it necessary for the President to be aware of the excesses that may arise from the decision over the fusion.
Furthermore, merging those institutions into BRIN may only make the problem more complex. Not to mention many other aspects that make it necessary for the President to be aware of the excesses that may arise from the decision over the fusion.
So how to deal with the raised question? With researches having been done for long, the birth of BRIN, which is believed to help shape up future development, prompts further question concerning what fields the researches are to undertake.
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A researcher works at the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology after the inauguration of the facility on Thursday (26/4/2018). The center is equipped with the latest genetic sequence devices, which makes Indonesia an international-level laboratory. The center focuses on the research to identify infectious and genetic diseases, develop diagnostic test devices and study new medicines or vaccines for infection.
With those articles above as reference, the question has not been answered. What is being presented is only BRIN\'s "new clothes" with the attached status as the "directing" agency.
In other words, the birth of BRIN has yet to give clarity over the reform and research strategy itself. The existence of an authority tasked with formulating priorities and directing the policies is imperative to making the research activities concrete and effective.
The authority should be able to determine clearly the direction, focus, and priorities of research. Politically, authorities in the field of research should be defined more clearly in the future as what BRIN was initially aspired for. It is important to emphasize its position.
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Past experience shows that coordinating and controlling the field of research is not a simple matter. Having a research authority that holds political control over policy, direction, focus and priorities becomes important.
The intention to cope with the exhausting swirling discourse, and dream to make research concretely able to encourage life and economic development require political goodwill. Limited resources, especially in funds, may remain but direction, focus, and research priorities must work on.
Surely many of those in the government are well aware of the issue. It has raised bewilderment that everyone seems to cast frozen responses to it. Even if the formation of BRIN includes the Employment Creation Law as legal base, making priorities is still necessary. Researches are not supposed to cover all entirely unselectively.
Political determination
Should there be a need for political determination, the President should emphasize that research in the industrial sector must become the focus and priority. A push for industry in the field of food, health, or other manufacturing, including the weaponry defense equipment system (alutsista), is part of the nation sustainability development and efforts to increase competitiveness.
An error may be found in the proceedings, but it is important to justifiably get started. The error can be corrected later. Isn’t it becoming President\'s commitment to build the nation on the basis of capable human resources, sciences and technology?
Part of the President\'s commitment is to build a knowledge-based nation relying on resources and research development conducted by state or private research institutions. They are encouraged to be more focused and optimal, expectedly spurred by the spirit of self-sustainability.
With the available choices, basic policies regarding plans, programs, and research activities do not need to be taken care of by BRIN. Let the matter be handled by the R&D agency at the ministries or institutions. Research on basic fields regarding social, political, community or cultural issues, should be the domain of campus.
A researcher extracts ketepeng leaves (Cassia alata) and parasites leaves (Dendrophtoe Sp) which are candidates for herbal medicines for Covid-19 at the Cara Pembuatan Obat Tradisonal Baik Laboratory (CPOTB) Center for Chemical Research, Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Puspitek, Tangerang South, Banten, Wednesday (6/5/2020).
The President sets national policies in the field of research, both in terms of direction, focus, and priorities, the regulations of which can be readily arranged.
The expected intricacies in the execution of policies and research programs as it has happened so far will obviously call for firm political stance and clear direction.
This way, BRIN becomes more focused and concentrated on working out the policies and research programs, without overlapping the programs with other institutions or campuses.
Research and incentives
In the context of direction, focus, and priorities, a firm and clear political stance is also needed to create a conducive climate for research activities. Part of the policy deserving consideration is the provision of incentive.
Regardless the form of package, issue on incentives may trigger "core problems" anywhere. Fiscal incentives must be concrete both for basic and applied research.
The President once issued Government Regulation (PP) No. 35/2007 concerning the allocation a portion of the revenues of business entities for enhancing engineering capability, innovation and technology diffusion.
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However, the regulations proves difficult to realize. Not only is the procedure long and bureaucratic, its realization is also highly dependent on the interpretation and generosity of the Minister of Finance and the tax authorities.
From the point of view of taxation regulations, the provision of such incentives is highly dependent on the interpretation of the phrase “it is done in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations in the field of taxation and customs” (article 11 of the regulation).
Even though the formulation meet standard requirement, its implementation regarding depends on how the relevant apparatus interprets it. They fear misinterpretation and the consequences of possible corruption charges of causing state financial losses.
During the era of then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the National Innovation Committee around 2013 once recommended improvements in the direction of easing procedures to realize disbursement of incentives.
The reluctance in the implementation has brought about ineffectiveness of the government regulation. During the era of then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the National Innovation Committee around 2013 once recommended improvements in the direction of easing procedures to realize disbursement of incentives. However, it did not appear to work
Political watch
Another point of the overview is the need to clarify the political sanity regarding BRIN\'s existence. To avoid BRIN growing lamely due to the shrouding politicization clout , it is important to emphasize the function of the BRIN steering board contained in article 6 of Presidential Regulation No. 33/2021. If it is about basic policy, it is better to leave the matter to the President.
The reality of research politics that has looked like tangled thread so far, especially when it comes to research direction, focus, and priorities, should be part of the authority of the President.
This picture taken on May 14, 2020 shows a researcher at Peking University\'s Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics conducting tests at their laboratory in Beijing. - The Chinese laboratory says it has developed a drug it believes has the power to bring the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to a halt, shortening the recovery time for those infected and even offering short-term immunity from the virus.
Maintaining the political and ideological aspects is inherently part of the process of formulating national policies that have been determined by the President. The BRIN’s steering board should be more focused strengthening, ensuring, and securing program in accordance with the government\'s policy.
These steps will be able to stem the suggestions that the existence of the steering board within BRIN be used to politicize research, or burden the research mission with ideological issues. The move can clarify that the steering board is actually to safeguard and supervise the agency so that research can be carried according to the directions, policies, and priorities set by the President.
Research programs and activities are truly focused on economic development in order to achieve self-sustainability, advancement and nation\'s welfare.
This nation has developed political and ideological awareness with Pancasila being accepted through the approved national mechanism. Efforts to safeguard this issue have been in place procedurally through state and community institutions.
Bambang Kesowo
Bambang Kesowo, Chairman of the Working Group on Regulations and Incentives, National Innovation Committee 2010-2014.
(This article was translated by Musthofid).
