The Governments of Indonesia and Australia through the Knowledge Sector Initiative (KSI) and in collaboration with the National Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Balitbang Kemendagri) held a capacity building workshop to support the initiation of regional development innovation on September 3, 2015 in Jakarta.
Attended by 100 people from the Balitbang Kemendagri office, the workshop aimed to strengthen the ability and capacity of researchers from government research and development agencies. Its overall goals also included efforts to improve capacity in the management of human resources and budgets, as well as providing support for initiating regional innovation in the preparation of policy frameworks.
In his presentation, Dr. H. Muh Marwan, Director General of the Regional Development Ministry of the Home Affairs stated, "For regional government to realise regional autonomy and responsiblity for the common welfare they need to improve service delivery, community development and active participation – this will also ensure growth in the regional area and enhance competitiveness.”"Innovation will not operate properly if the need for resources associated with research and development is not met", he added.
The five strategic measures for optimising regional innovation are: institutional strengthening of research and development (R&D); optimisation of R&D cooperation between regions, universities, research institutions, ministerial research institutes, and the private sector; focus on the potential of the region; strengthening regional innovation systems through creative economy, research and technology and a superior product; and documentation as a reference for the Budget through APBD (the annual financial plan of local governments in Indonesia).
"To make regional innovation happen, we need substantial content from the Ministry of Research and Technology and Higher Education", Dr. H. Muh Marwan concluded.
Dr. Ir. Ophirtus Sumule, DEA, Director of Systems Innovation, Research and Technology and the Ministry of Higher Education discussed the relationship between the Synergy Academy Program-Business-Government (ABG) and the regional implementation of Science Techno Parks (STP) which is in line with President Joko Widodo vision to build a number of Science and Techno Parks in the regions. STP is regarded as a vehicle for the institutional synergy of science and technology in order to create an innovation-based economy.
"Innovation in the region, in the context of technology should start thinking about the downstream impact in order to enhance added value and the nation's competitiveness," said Dr. Ir. Ophirtus Sumule, DEA. He added that, "Innovation is not something sophisticated but more important is how to leverage other sectors in creating employment opportunities.”
This workshop is part of a series of capacity building workshops for strengthening Research and Development through the use of knowledge in the process of policy making.
