A new research agency has to make do with limited research funds for its job of consolidating the country’s long-scattered research bodies and private sector entities in hope of improving Indonesia’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Addressing reporters on Nov. 13, the chief of the newly formed National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bambang Brodjonegoro, said the “relatively small research budget” would be directed to research and innovations that could accelerate development and improve macro-economics in the country, which has lately been clouded by trade deficits.
The Rp 36 trillion (US$2.56 billion) Indonesia is spending on research and development (R&D) only accounts for 0.25 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), far less than what neighboring countries spend.
“We’ve spent the biggest amount of funding on the many…
