BRIN Reveals Reasons For Diaspora Reluctant To Return To Indonesia Because Research Supporting Lab Is Not Ready

The Integrated Laboratory for Oceanographic Research (LATERIO) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). (ANTARA-HO-Humas BRIN)

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) continues to strive to invite diaspora to go home to build Indonesia through a research and innovation ecosystem. "Developing human resources takes a long time. One way to speed it up is to immediately bring home the diaspora," said Head of BRIN Laksana Tri Handoko in a press conference commemorating the 28th National Technology Awakening Day (Harteknas) at the BJ Habibie Building BRIN Complex, Central Jakarta, Thursday 10 August, confiscated by Antara. Handoko revealed the main reason the diasporas are reluctant to return to the country because the laboratory-like infrastructure that supports research activities is not yet ready. Therefore, during the last two years after the transformation, BRIN continued to build various laboratory facilities as a form of preparation of research infrastructure so that the diasporas were interested in returning home and could continue their research activities. The built research infrastructure also aims to increase the competency capacity of the diaspora according to the field of expertise. "So, we can't just educate people who have been outside, we told them to go back, then we hope that if we don't provide an ecosystem, there is no laboratory, it must start from scratch, it's impossible," said Handoko.

Furthermore, he said that a strong research ecosystem was able to create superior innovations to encourage economic growth in Indonesia. Currently, Indonesia is entering the trap of middle income countries. Not many countries can get out of the trap without struggling. According to Handoko, Indonesia must be able to realize economic growth above 7 percent in order to escape the trap of middle-income countries and become developed countries. "The economy can only grow above 7 percent, it can only start with superior human resources because the main components of research are humans. We can make infrastructure quickly, the budget can be added quickly, but if humans need time," he concluded.