ogyakarta - Friday, 12 June 2015 - The Minister of National Development Planning (Bappenas), Andrinof Chaniago and several leading Indonesian researchers will meet on Friday, 12 June 2015 at the University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta. Hosted by the Centre for Health Care Policy and Management (PKMK), the meeting will focus on the importance of a more collaborative effort between Indonesian research organisations and policy makers, in order to improve the quality of public policy in Indonesia.
“Bridging Research to Policy Making” is the overarching theme of the forum discussion. Topics include: the current situation and its challenges, the relationship between researchers and policy makers, as well as examining ways to increase the contribution of research to the policy-making process.
For policymakers, the use of reliable research evidence will help to build strong policy and implementation strategies for the Government’s national development agenda. Indonesia is on the road to becoming one of the top ten world economies by 2025. To move forward in this direction, efforts are being made to shift from an economy that relies on the extraction of natural resources to a human resources and innovation-based economy. It is critical that research produced in Indonesia addresses these developmental priorities and is accessible, timely and relevant.
Minister Andrinof has welcomed the opportunity for dialogue and knowledge sharing between research organisations and policy-making institutions. He points out that Bappenas always undertakes background research so that planning and public policy formulation have an academic, evidence-base.
“The role of researchers is vital to the creation of quality public policy. Qualified, academic researchers who are equipped with various scientific skills and tools can undertake policy research and make policy recommendations based on this. Researchers can contribute concepts, ideas, inventions, theories, and new approaches that can be utilised by the Government in achieving the goals of national development planning and implementing the Priority Development Agenda (Nawa Cita), such as food security, energy security, maritime development, industry and tourism,” said Minister Andrinof.
Minister Andrinof urges researchers to be aware of the potential benefits of research for society. "It is important how researchers translate theoretical ideas and ideals related to development into operational strategies and methods. Hence policy recommendations can be implemented in a real and sustainable way, and can be beneficial to the community in improving human welfare and Indonesian society," said Minister Andrinof.
The Director of the Centre of Health Care Policy and Management (PKMK), Yodi Mahendradhata supports the Bappenas vision and comments, "We hope the research studies that we have developed will strengthen health policies in Indonesia. These studies should not remain inside the ‘ivory towers’ of academia but should be used to contribute to the improvement of the health of the community."
Meanwhile, the Minister for Development Cooperation at the Australian Embassy, Jakarta, Mr James Gilling also highlighted the importance of sound economic and social policies to Indonesia’s future prosperity. “Australia’s economic partnership with Indonesia is focused on supporting Indonesia’s goals for equitable and sustainable growth,” he said.
