China's long history of stable development has been built on the modernization with Chinese characteristics. This is evidenced by the country's increasing technological capabilities and growing scientific and academic achievements. This is not a country that has an outdated transportation system or a city that cannot automate services for its citizens. Instead, it has developed services that are sophisticated enough to meet the needs of its travelers.
Our common ground
Indonesia established the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to conduct integrated research, development, studies, application, as well as invention and innovation. The BRIN Steering Committee is chaired by Megawati Soekarnoputeri, former president of Indonesia.
According to Indonesia's National Science and Technology Law, technology and science play an important role in the country's development. China and Indonesia enjoy a positive relationship since the 1950s. Their cooperation in various fields, including science and technology, has continued to grow.
Related to medicine, China was also actively involved in vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, China sent 7.8 million US dollars worth of medical supplies and vaccines to Indonesia, which were presented at the Two Countries Twin Parks Global Promotion Conference on July 15, 2021.
Indonesia and China have been fighting the pandemic together since it began. Indonesian Minister of Economic Affairs for Maritime Affairs and Investment also conveyed that China will make Indonesia a regional vaccine production center.
This year, China is sending over 60 electric furnaces for nickel ore refineries in Indonesia. This cooperation will be followed by the development of electric cars.
Facilitating collaboration
With the establishment of BRIN, Indonesia is stepping up efforts to increase partnerships that can be made through one door. Not only that, but it is open to conducting research in Indonesia with a post-doctoral pattern.
In addition to facilitating scientific collaboration with foreign partners, BRIN has also implemented administrative reforms that are ahead of academic and government institutions. Researchers do their work with flexible working arrangements so that it is easy to achieve not only effectiveness and efficiency in work but also in service.
A display called Riska, located at the bottom left of BRIN's official website, can answer your questions. This is different from the situation in the past when people had to spend a lot of time to contact the research institute.
Greater networking with domestic and international players in research and technology is expected to help Indonesia achieve economic growth of over seven percent. Potential cooperation areas include high-performance computing, renewable energy and energy efficiency, biorefinery, health and biomedicine, sustainable agriculture, and social science research.
Dr. Syafrizal Maludin is a researcher in the Directorate for Policy Formulation on Research, Technology and Innovation, BRIN, Indonesia.