BRIN and Kemdiksaintek to Launch Strategic Research Roadmap and National Agenda for Indonesia 2045
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiksaintek) have announced a landmark collaboration aimed at streamlining the nation’s scientific trajectory through a Joint Decree (SKB). This strategic partnership, spearheaded by the Head of BRIN, Professor Arif Satria, is designed to provide a unified legal and operational framework for Indonesia’s research ecosystem. The decree, which is expected to be officially released to the public within the coming week, marks a significant step in synchronizing the efforts of the country’s primary research body with its higher education and scientific ministerial counterpart.
Speaking at the "Open Talk BRIN Goes to Global Recognition and Nobel Prize" event held at the BJ Habibie Building in Jakarta on Monday, April 20, 2026, Professor Satria emphasized that the SKB would serve as the cornerstone for Indonesia’s scientific ambitions over the next two decades. The document will formalize two critical guidelines: a comprehensive Research Roadmap for 2045 and a detailed National Research Agenda spanning until 2029. These documents are intended to bridge the gap between academic inquiry and industrial application, ensuring that the nation’s intellectual output translates into tangible socioeconomic benefits.
A Unified Vision for the Research Ecosystem
The primary objective of the Joint Decree is to eliminate the silos that have historically fragmented Indonesia’s scientific community. By aligning BRIN’s research capabilities with the educational and scientific mandates of Kemdiksaintek, the government aims to create a seamless pipeline from basic research in universities to applied innovation in national laboratories and industrial sectors.
According to Professor Satria, the two books included in the SKB represent different yet complementary time horizons. The 2045 Research Roadmap is a visionary document aligned with the "Indonesia Emas" (Golden Indonesia) 2045 initiative, which seeks to transform the country into a top-five global economy by its centenary. Conversely, the Research Agenda for 2029 provides a more immediate, tactical framework to address current national challenges and set the stage for the first phase of the long-term roadmap.
This structural alignment is particularly crucial given the recent reorganization of Indonesia’s ministerial cabinets. The separation of higher education and science into a dedicated ministry (Kemdiksaintek) allows for a more focused approach to human capital development and scientific advancement. The upcoming SKB will clarify the roles of both institutions, ensuring that funding, infrastructure, and talent are utilized with maximum efficiency.
Strategic Focus: Basic vs. Applied Research
One of the most significant aspects of the new guidelines is the clear distinction and balance between basic research and applied research. For years, the Indonesian research landscape has debated the allocation of resources between these two categories. Basic research, often curiosity-driven, provides the foundational knowledge necessary for breakthroughs, while applied research focuses on solving specific, immediate problems.
"This SKB will become an essential reference for research conducted in Indonesia," Professor Satria stated. "It regulates both basic and applied research, providing a clear direction for our researchers on what the future holds."
By formalizing these categories, BRIN and Kemdiksaintek hope to encourage a culture where fundamental science is valued as the precursor to technological innovation. This is seen as a prerequisite for Indonesia’s goal of achieving global recognition and eventually contending for prestigious international honors, such as the Nobel Prize. The roadmap will reportedly outline specific "high-risk, high-reward" areas where Indonesia has a unique geographic or biological advantage, such as marine sciences, tropical medicine, and biodiversity-based biotechnology.
Chronology of the Initiative and Institutional Synergy
The announcement of the SKB follows a series of high-level consultations between BRIN and various stakeholders in the academic and private sectors. The timeline for this initiative began in late 2025, following a directive to optimize the National Research Master Plan (RIRN). Since then, working groups from BRIN and Kemdiksaintek have been drafting the specific milestones for the 2029 and 2045 targets.
The "Open Talk" event on April 20 served as a soft launch for these concepts, signaling to the scientific community that a more structured era of research governance is imminent. The choice of the BJ Habibie Building as the venue was symbolic, as the late President Habibie was a staunch advocate for technology-led economic growth.
The synergy between Professor Arif Satria’s leadership at BRIN and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is expected to address the "Valley of Death" in innovation—the phase where research results often fail to reach the market due to a lack of funding or institutional support. By integrating the roadmap with the higher education curriculum, the government ensures that the next generation of scientists is trained in fields that are prioritized in the national agenda.
Supporting Data and the Global Innovation Landscape
To understand the necessity of this roadmap, it is essential to look at Indonesia’s current standing in the global innovation landscape. According to the Global Innovation Index (GII), Indonesia has shown steady improvement but still faces challenges in research output and R&D intensity compared to its regional peers like Singapore or Vietnam.
Data from the World Bank and UNESCO indicates that Indonesia’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of GDP has historically hovered below 0.3%. The 2029 and 2045 plans are expected to advocate for a phased increase in this expenditure, aiming for a target closer to 1% or 2% of GDP, supported heavily by private sector contributions.
Furthermore, the focus on "futuristic research" mentioned by Professor Satria is backed by global market trends. For instance, the global market for green energy and advanced battery materials is projected to grow exponentially over the next decade. By positioning Indonesia as a leader in material science—moving beyond raw nickel exports to advanced battery chemistry—the roadmap aligns scientific research with the country’s economic "downstreaming" (hilirisasi) policy.
Forecasting the Technologies of 2035 and 2040
A central theme of Professor Satria’s address was the importance of "imaginative projection." He argued that for a nation to survive and thrive, its research institutions must be able to forecast technological trends at least a decade in advance.
"Forecasting future technology means we must imagine what technologies will be developing in 2035," he explained. This forward-looking approach is already being applied to the energy sector. While Indonesia is currently a major player in the nickel-based battery supply chain, BRIN is actively researching alternative materials. The goal is to determine if future energy storage will continue to rely on nickel or if materials like sodium-ion, solid-state electrolytes, or hydrogen fuel cells will take precedence.
Beyond energy, the roadmap highlights several key areas for futuristic research:
- Genomic Health: Utilizing Indonesia’s vast genetic diversity to develop personalized medicine and improve national health outcomes.
- Green Energy Sources: Exploring geothermal, tidal, and solar innovations to meet net-zero emission targets.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Developing indigenous AI models that cater to local languages and socio-economic contexts, ensuring data sovereignty.
- Food Security: Leveraging biotechnology to create climate-resilient crops to safeguard the nation’s food supply against global warming.
Professional Analysis: Implications for the Scientific Community
The introduction of the SKB and the dual-book roadmap has profound implications for researchers, universities, and private investors. For researchers, it provides a sense of security and long-term clarity. Research projects, particularly in "basic science," often require years of sustained funding and effort. A formalized roadmap reduces the risk of project cancellation due to shifts in political or administrative leadership.
For the private sector, the 2029 and 2045 agendas serve as a "technology signal." By knowing where the government is directing its scientific resources, companies can align their own R&D investments with national priorities, fostering more effective public-private partnerships. This is expected to stimulate "incentivized innovation," where the government provides tax breaks or grants for research that fits within the SKB’s framework.
However, the success of this initiative will depend on the implementation of the "Noble Prize" ambition. Critics have often pointed out that Indonesian science suffers from an over-emphasis on administrative metrics rather than qualitative breakthroughs. Professor Satria’s focus on "global recognition" suggests a shift toward high-impact publications and international collaborations, which are necessary to elevate the prestige of Indonesian science on the world stage.
Anticipating Future Challenges
Professor Satria concluded his remarks with a call for resilience and adaptability. "BRIN is here to solve today’s problems and also to anticipate future problems. It is not enough to just solve today’s issues without the ability to anticipate the future. Insya Allah, we will survive forever," he said.
The "future problems" mentioned include not only technological shifts but also existential threats such as climate change, pandemics, and global supply chain disruptions. The SKB is designed to be a living document, capable of being updated as new scientific frontiers emerge.
As the public awaits the official release of the Joint Decree next week, the scientific community remains cautiously optimistic. The success of the 2029 Agenda and the 2045 Roadmap will ultimately be measured by their ability to foster a vibrant, independent, and globally competitive Indonesian research ecosystem. By providing a clear "north star" for innovation, BRIN and Kemdiksaintek are attempting to ensure that Indonesia does not just participate in the future, but actively shapes it.
