Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and state-run strategic investment holding Danantara are stepping up joint research efforts to accelerate the country’s downstream industrial push and strengthen national technological capabilities.
In a statement issued in Jakarta on Monday, BRIN Head Arif Satria outlined three research pathways to Minister of Investment and Downstreaming and Danantara CEO Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, focusing on grassroots innovation, strategic state firms, and faster foreign technology transfer.
He said BRIN aims to help achieve the government’s 8 percent growth target through innovation for MSMEs, Red and White Village Cooperatives, the Red and White Fishing Village initiative, the Free Nutritious Meals program, and other grassroots initiatives.
The second pathway targets research and development support for Danantara’s strategic state-owned enterprises (BUMN) in aerospace, shipbuilding, defense and energy.
“I came here to strengthen research and development (R&D) cooperation to support Danantara’s important mission of building a strong national industry,” he said.
Arif added that the third pathway will focus on ensuring Indonesia gains core technologies from foreign investment, warning the country must avoid being limited to assembly roles.
“Accelerating technology transfer requires strategy and strong coordination between BRIN and Danantara,” he said.
Rosan welcomed BRIN’s approach, stressing that Danantara seeks investments that bring technological value. He said downstreaming will only succeed with strong national R&D capacity.
“As instructed by the President, investments in Danantara carry a minimum return above our cost of capital, but if there is technology transfer and job creation, we are willing to accept a lower return. That makes technology transfer crucial,” he said.
Rosan said sectors including transportation, shipbuilding, food, and electric-vehicle ecosystems are being prepared for joint research, adding that Danantara has requested battery research collaboration with BRIN.
