Research, Technology, and Higher Education Ministry has tightened permits for research involving foreign researchers.
“This aims at ensuring Indonesia’s bargaining position for collaborative research with foreign partners,” said Director of Intellectual Property Management in the Ministry, Dr. Sadjuga, M.Sc., on Wednesday (30/5) in the Senate Hall UGM.
To researchers attending socialisation of permit and collaborative research, Sadjuga said Indonesia was rich in biodiversity which needs to be protected. Sadjuga said research involving foreign parties can bring benefits to each of the parties. But in Indonesia since 2008, collaborative research has decreased significantly. Hence, said Sadjuga, the Directorate General designed programme to increase the collaboration such as by scientific exchange, training, scholarship, etc.
Furthermore, Sadjuga announced the increase of publication in the country. As of 6 April 2018, Indonesia ranks the highest among ASEAN countries in terms of publication. Indonesia’s journals indexed by Scopus also increased with the country ranking surpassing Egypt and Pakistan among Organisation of Islamic Countries.
UGM Vice-Rector for Research and Community Service, drg. Ika Dewi Ana, M.Kes., Ph.D., in her remarks said contribution from Indonesian researchers in world scientific forums was still low. In her opinion, research was the identity of a nation. She reminded researchers that research needs to be done prudently as it corresponds to national resilience. On research that utilises Indonesia’s natural resources and shipment of materials abroad, protection needs to be given to sustain the country’s resilience.
“So, in this forum we can discus together the rules for research so that national resilience can be sustained. Always establish equal partnership with foreign researchers and sustain national resilience,” she concluded.