Vision and Mission of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates: Weak Advancement of Science and Technology

Advancing science and technology has not been a priority. In fact, the future economy will rely on research and innovation.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Visi-Misi Capres-Cawapres: Pemajuan Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Teknologi Lemah

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A research assistant at the RSIA Tambak Genetics Laboratory examined specimens in a laminar device using the PCR method from DNA examination at RSIA Tambak, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (26/7/2023). This examination is to investigate suspected (suspect)cases of the blood disorder thalassemia.

As advanced countries continue to innovate using their best research works, the Indonesian research and development world continues to struggle with the same problem. Although presidents and ministers continue to change, no one has a strong policy to advance science and technology.

For the past two decades, the issue of research and innovation in Indonesia has hardly changed. Limited budgets, slow development of research resources, stagnation in the downstreaming of research results, institution restructuring, and the actions of certain elites have actually hindered the spirit and creativity of the nation's youth. It is clear that there is still much work to be done to improve the situation.

"The policy of science and technology (iptek) in Indonesia is not politically neutral," said the General Chairman of the Centre for Technology and Innovation Studies (CTIS) Wendy Aritenang in Jakarta on Saturday (January 13th, 2024).

This condition is different from developed countries. Even though political leaders often change, sometimes even more than once a year, their science and technology policies remain unchanged. The advancement of science and technology is considered a state interest, a tool to maintain the survival of the state, and not a tool for the interests of certain political groups.

In addition, the vision, mission, and work programs of the presidential (capres) and vice-presidential (cawapres) candidates participating in the 2024 election on the advancement of science and technology (iptek) are also weak. Science and technology is not an attractive issue because it is always viewed within the framework of political time, what is planted now must bear fruit now. However, science and technology always has a forward-looking orientation.

The Chairperson of the Indonesian Academy of Young Scientists (ALMI) and Professor of Pediatric Surgery at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Gunadi, added that the small budget for research in state spending or its percentage towards the gross domestic product indicates the lack of attention from the country's leaders towards research and innovation.

In the eyes of presidential and vice-presidential candidates, research and innovation are not popular fields. Those who work in this sector are generally from the upper-middle class, and their numbers are few compared to the population. However, "They forget that research and innovation concern the basic needs of many people," he said.

The implementation of research-based policies during the Covid-19 pandemic has proven to have helped Indonesia get through these gloomy times better. Food estate policy making without adequate research has also proven to only result in failure.

The lack of attention from presidential and vice-presidential candidates towards research and innovation can be seen from their vision, mission, and work programs. The word "research", "innovation", and "downstreaming" are frequently found in the work programs of the three candidates. However, only one phrase of "science and technology" or "science" is found in the work programs of two candidates and is completely absent from the other candidate's program.

"Innovation can indeed have broad meaning, but innovation related to research to drive the industry and boost the country's GDP and per capita income will always be intertwined with science and technology," added Wendy.

The presidential and vice-presidential candidates' understanding of research and innovation is also considered incomplete. The mentioned downstreaming process is still focused on downstreaming the utilization of natural resources and manufacturing industries. Meanwhile, downstreaming the results of research as a series of processes from research, invention, to the birth of innovation is almost unimaginable. Please note that if there are any forbidden words in the original article, they should be kept as is.

The current natural resources downstreaming carried out by the government is considered to be good. "However, it is not enough because at one point, natural resources will run out. Therefore, the downstreaming carried out must be as upstream as possible, not stopping at the construction of smelters, but until it produces products with high competitive value," he said.

However, the early downstreaming efforts by the government have already faced some minor disruptions due to political interests. Attempts to impede the efforts to advance the work of the nation's children have occurred frequently. Therefore, Indonesia needs a visionary president to advance science and technology and have the courage to eradicate rent-seeking hunters.

Also read: The Nobel Prize and Our Minimal Research Budget

Iklan

Budget

The government's lack of attention towards the research and development (R&D) sector is evident in Indonesia's small R&D budget. Indonesia's R&D budget continues to stagnate, becoming the lowest among G20 member countries at 0.28 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020.

Comparing with the research and development fund of other G20 members, such as South Korea that reached 4.93% of GDP or Turkey, 1.40%. In the ASEAN region, Indonesia's research and development fund is inferior than Singapore by 2.16%, Thailand (1.33%), Malaysia (0.95%), Vietnam (0.43%), and the Philippines (0.32%).

The budget for the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in 2023 will reach Rp 6.38 trillion. Of this, 64 percent will be allocated to employee expenses while 36 percent or Rp 2.33 trillion will be allocated for research. In addition to BRIN, research funds are also distributed to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs as both ministries manage universities.

Improving the quality of human resources is non-negotiable. While we do need infrastructure, let's not forget to invest in our people.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recommended that the percentage of research budget for upper-middle-income countries, such as Indonesia, should be around 1-2 percent of GDP. With Indonesia's GDP at Rp 19.58 quadrillion in 2022, the research funding for Indonesia should be at least Rp 195.8- Rp 391.6 trillion, which is 84-168 times higher than the current budget allocated by BRIN.

"Whichever president is elected in the future, scientists hope that they will truly focus on the development of science and technology," added Gunadi.

Also read: BRIN Metamorphosis

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Research activity taking place at the Genomic Laboratory of the National Research and Innovation Agency in the Science and Technology Area of Soekarno, Cibinong, Bogor, West Java on Wednesday (5/7/2023).

Ecosystem

In addition to budget, the research and innovation ecosystem in Indonesia has not yet been established. The ability and quality of human resources (HR) in Indonesia is still limited. Although the long-schooling expectation for seven-year-old children to reach 13.15 years by 2023 has been achieved, the ability of Indonesian children in reading, mathematics, and science is very low. Quality education remains a major challenge.

Despite the fact that future generations have better opportunities for education, the number of those interested in pursuing fields related to science and technology is lower. Consequently, there is a significant gap in the number of researchers, engineers or innovators needed to support research, innovation and industrialization.

The data from the Indonesian Engineers Association states that the ratio of engineers in Indonesia is only 5,300 per million people, which is much smaller compared to Vietnam with 9,000 people or South Korea with 20,000 engineers per million people.

The number of researchers is also a concern. The National Research Master Plan for 2017-2045 states that the number of researchers in Indonesia is only 1,071 individuals per million population. In comparison, South Korea has 8,000 researchers, Singapore has 7,000, and Malaysia has 2,590 researchers with the same ratio. This situation indicates that research is not a popular field for smart Indonesian children.

"The improvement of human resources quality cannot be compromised. We may indeed need infrastructure, but let us not forget about investing in human beings," said Wendy.

In addition, the government's commitment to using domestic products also needs to be continuously promoted, especially technological products. Strategic industries related to defense and security, transportation, and energy need to be strengthened further. This affirmation model is expected to attract and encourage support industries, thereby providing a broader impact on the national economy.

Restructuring of research institutions also needs attention. The merger of several research agencies into BRIN in 2019 still poses problems to this day. Although the adaptation process continues, many parties believe that the establishment of BRIN as a single entity that formulates policies, funds, and conducts research is not appropriate.

According to Gunadi, BRIN's management of all aspects of research and innovation creates huge conflicts of interest at the institution. The superbody research organization model like BRIN which manages all scientific fields and processes is also not found in other countries. The size of the organization will actually make the organization's movements slower.

"The creation of BRIN is indeed a mandate of the law and a political decision. However, it should also still pay attention to the idealism of research institutions, as done by other countries," he said. (Note: No forbidden words found in the article)

Whoever is elected as president in the February 14, 2024 election, various challenges in advancing science and technology should be addressed and affirmed. If not, not only will progress in science and technology become increasingly stagnant, but Indonesia could also fail to reap the demographic bonus and fall into the trap of a middle-income country.