The position of Indonesia’s competitiveness is considered lower than that of neighboring countries that have long put the elements of knowledge and innovation into their every economic activities. Therefore, many parties need to make a change of paradigm to include innovation as an engine of economic growth. The economic innovation as paradigm of knowledge-based economic development is expected to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the nation, so it can boost economic growth which would eventually increase prosperity.
That was the statement of Prof. Dr. Ir. Zuhal Abdul Kadir, M.Sc.EE, the Chairman of National Innovation Committee after the Public Lecture, entitled ‘System of Innovation: Paradigm of Competitive Economic Development’ at Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada on Monday (25/7). He said that for the sustainability of the economy up to 2025, the government has formed two committees for the acceleration of economic development, namely the National Innovation Committee (KIN) and the National Economic Committee (KEN). "Currently, we are trying to socialize innovations that grow from below rather than from above. Through the educational system and culture, we want to prepare innovation -based community. Therefore, campuses like UGM are expected as the spearhead of the national innovation system," he said.
With KIN, various research results and products of creative thinking can be utilized for the public. Through Research and Development (R & D), this agency seeks to create creative conditions for a variety of creative products that can be utilized by community, and to better realize the innovation economy in Indonesia, the government has launched the Master Plan of Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Development.
The master plan was launched on May 27, 2011 and divides Indonesia into six economic corridors, the corridor of Sumatra (Production and Processing Center of National Crops and Energy Source), the corridor of Java (Booster of National Industry and Service), the corridor of Bali-Nusa Tenggara (Gate of National Tourism and Food Supports), the corridor of Kalimantan (Center for Mining Production and Processing and National Energy Sources), the corridor of Sulawesi (Center for Production and Processing of National Agricultural Products, Plantation, Fisheries, Oil and Gas Mining), and the corridor of Maluku and Papua (Development Center of Food, Fisheries, Energy and National Mining).
According to Zuhal, in every corridor there are centers of excellence led by the college which is synergistic with Business and Government (Triple Helix Network). Meanwhile, the ten colleges that are appointed are Unsyiah, ITB, IPB, UI, UGM, ITS, Udayana, Cenderawasih University, and Pattimura University. "All is to strengthen their connectivity, to strengthen expansion activities and to accelerate the development of corridors. In addition, it is expected to strengthen human resources and innovation in each corridor," he added.