Friday (7/8/20), Yanuar Nugroho as a Member of the Indonesian Young Scientists Academy (ALMI) in his article “Challenges to Manage Research and Innovation” in Kompas assessed that if the government wants to achieve Indonesia’s vision of advancing 2045, then we must organize research and innovation by presenting the country, not being targeted or forced. In a straightforward manner, Nugroho also stated that the biggest problem so far has been research and innovation which have never been a priority. As the President of the Political Solution Fighting Center who always puts forward ideas and solutions for the community, the writer considers that Nugroho is overly demanding the State with his writing.
It is true that research is the backbone of the progress of a nation. As is well known, the progress and excellence of Britain and European countries is supported by good research activities so that they are competitive in the global arena. In line with what Nelson said, that research and innovation are the keys to encouraging the improvement of the quality of life for humans and the state, which in turn is the nation’s competitiveness and the nation’s productivity.
State Presence
In essence, there are three things we should know about research, namely broadening the understanding of scientific disciplines in a mature manner, breaking through policy improvements, and breaking through research institutions and universities to create critical thinking. These three things have become the nation’s commitment in shaping systematic human resource thinking in order to create knowledge and spread bright ideas. In addition, research is also the key in organizing the life of the nation and state in the post-modern and digitalization era like today. Or like today, the unexpected emergency condition we are feeling, “an eye opening pandemic” wrote Nugroho.
In recent years, the government has realized the importance of a sector that produces knowledge (research and innovation). It can be seen from the preparation of the National Research Master Plan through Presidential Regulation No. 38 of 2018 as a sequence of research priorities in Indonesia, Presidential Regulation No. 16 of 2018 concerning Government Procurement of Goods and Services which emphasizes the need for public procurement related to quality research both from think tanks and universities, and Law No. 11 of 2019 concerning the National System of Science and Technology which underlines the need for a research ecosystem in Indonesia as well as the formation of the structure of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
Research Impact
Apart from the pandemic condition that is currently hitting us, this country has long been a hotbed of problems, ranging from corruption, nepotism, poverty, unemployment, debt closed with debt, high disparity, and so on. Where all these problems are the task of research to provide solutions, research has been conducted very often by researchers.
If we look at the number of research producers in Indonesia, we have 4,670 higher education institutions (ranging from universities, institutes, colleges, public and private academies, community academies, and polytechnics) and 81 government institutions with 294,820 active lecturers and as many researchers. 8,700. This means that we have assets that have the potential to become critical mass in encouraging scientific and superior culture and answering all existing problems. Because we have 4,670 higher education institutions and 81 research institutions from the government as laboratories to dissect all problems. However, until now the impact of the research has not been felt, whereas every year the funds are always allocated by the community to the state?
In this case, the authors focus on questioning the results of research related to the impact of scientific work on the broader society, reflecting concrete conceptualizations of policies and practice guidelines, and focusing on the results of use as observable effects or changes. Especially the impact of research on the academic world and society. The author assesses how research results have an impact on academics so that advancing scientific knowledge, methods, or theories in or across fields of study has not been achieved. Likewise with the further impact on society beyond the academic silo. In the end, we assess the availability of research results to be formulated into policies and implemented in solving various problems.
Should
The Indonesian Vision 2045 has been formulated, but it is not impossible that the vision will remain as a paper filling text if the main engine to make it happen is not functioning. The main engine that is meant is the productivity and competitiveness of the nation through research. So the real question is how to increase the impact of research and innovation in progress in Indonesia? Because in fact the challenge of our research and innovation is the impact of research results so far in answering the problems of the nation and the state that are still minimal. Do not let researchers also become a nation pathology that undermines State funds with many demands, but the performance is minimal and the quality and quantity of research produced is low and does not have a constructive solution impact for the nation and state.
