BRIN Hosts STS Forum: Strengthening Research Ecosystem
BRIN Champions Collaborative Innovation for Lasting Futures at STS Forum
Jakarta – The national Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is spearheading a new era of collaborative research and innovation, focusing on sustainable funding, open infrastructure, researcher mobility, interdisciplinary approaches, and the crucial downstreaming of research outcomes through industry and startup partnerships. this strategic push aims to accelerate the growth of applicable innovations to address regional challenges and build a robust ecosystem for national development towards “Golden Indonesia 2045.”
BRIN Head Laksana Tri Handoko emphasized the agency’s pivotal role in fostering regional collaboration, stating, “The collaboration enables researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry players to work together, accelerate the commercialization of research results, and create applicable innovations to address various regional issues.” He highlighted the critical contribution of startups in driving digital conversion and urban innovation, especially in areas like smart mobility, renewable energy, and enhanced public service systems.
“Through the launch of an international collaborative research funding scheme, researcher mobility, and an open-access policy for research infrastructure, BRIN strives to build an inclusive and impactful research and innovation ecosystem for national development toward Golden Indonesia 2045,” Handoko remarked.
This year’s Science and Technology and Society (STS) Forum, now in its ninth edition, has evolved from a workshop to a conference format, designed to broaden discussions and deepen engagement across sectors and countries. BRIN official Edy Giri Rachman Putra detailed the forum’s structure, which includes three core sessions.
The first session, “Strengthening Research Funding, Infrastructure, and Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainable Innovation,” will explore strategies for enhancing research collaboration through funding integration, researcher mobility, and the effective management of open infrastructure.
The second session,”Advancing Strategic Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research Areas for Regional Development,” will delve into interdisciplinary research specifically tailored to address the complexities of civilizational and cultural shifts towards modern smart societies. Putra noted that BRIN is actively initiating research programs in social sciences, humanities, and archaeology to contribute to the global narrative on sustainability and local wisdom.
The third session, “Urban Innovation and Start-up Ecosystems,” will focus on the vital role of startups in translating research into tangible innovations that tackle the challenges faced by urban communities in the digital age. BRIN has launched the RIIM Startup funding scheme to support Research-Based start-up Companies (PPBR), empowering them to make significant contributions through technological innovation.
Putra underscored the conference’s significance in fostering cross-disciplinary thinking,opening avenues for inter-sectoral collaboration,and strengthening the synergy between research and startups. “By developing an ecosystem that supports the growth of research-based start-ups, ASEAN and Japan can encourage innovation that directly impacts people’s lives, creating more inclusive and sustainable smart cities,” putra concluded.