Director General for Research Enhancement in the Research, Technology and Higher Learning Ministry, Dr. Muhammad Dimyati, said the competitiveness of Indonesia in the past three years had decreased. Research that has been conducted has not yet to drive the competitive level of the country.
“So, researchers should not do research just for the sake of research. You have to give benefits to human beings, too,” asked Dimyati on Monday (15/5) during the National Forum for Management of the Indonesian Research Institute, which was held at Faculty of Medicine UGM.
Dimyati expected Indonesian researchers would also conduct research that orientates towards innovation and invention, thus able to increase the nation’s competitiveness.
Hence, Dimyati reinstated the need to increase the value of several innovation variables, including publication, intellectual propery and industrial prototype. One way to do this is to simplify research funding schemes to increase the achievement of research indicators.
“The number of Indonesia publication is currently far below that of Malaysia. But we’re optimistic that we can catch up, even leading in ASEAN,” he said.
He said Indonesia has a big publication potential up to 151 thousand, which has yet to be explored. Presently, Indonesia has 31 thousand of lecturers with doctoral degree, in addition to 5,000 professors, and 3,000 researchers.
“With this potential, we can beat Malaysia. Let’s do this together to make institutional improvements through regulations that enable researchers in doing their research as well as in funding,” he said.
Meanwhile, Budiadi Prasetiamartati from Knowledge Sector Initiative said the lower level of research in Indonesia was caused by the big work responsibility of lecturers as they also have to do teaching and community service. “So, teaching and research need to be adjusted,” she suggested.