Habibie Once Built Silicon Valley Indonesia Named Puspiptek In Serpong
JAKARTA - The narrative of technological development has been heard since Indonesia was led by Suharto. The establishment of the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek) in 1976 became a breakthrough. Puspiptek was later hailed as a technology park. Puspiptek is also referred to as Indonesia's "Silicon Valley".
The Smiling General agreed that technological advances can lift Indonesia's degrees. Even before he took power. The reigns of Sukarno and Suharto became an era in which technology development was carried out massively.
As a form of seriousness, the government established puspiptek area in Serpong, Tangerang. Puspiptek originated from the idea of The Minister of Research and Technology (Menristek) Sumitro Djojohadikusumo (1972-1978).
In that context Puspiptek becomes a means of organizing research directed to the advancement of nusantara technology. However, the leadership of Sumitro, who is also the father of Prabowo Subianto who is currently the Minister of Defense, did not continue.
Suharto then intervened to give the position of Minister of Technology to Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie. Further related to Habibie's work as Minister of Technology, we have reviewed in the article Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie is the Minister of Research and Technology Best.
The election of Habibie was something that suharto had been waiting for for a long time. Before serving as Minister of Technology, Habibie was invited to visit Suharto's residence at the end of January 1974.
In the meeting, Habibie was given three clues. One, Habibie was allowed to make the aircraft industry. Second, about the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology. Third, the development of the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek).
"Indeed, Habibie when he recently got the task of President Suharto to build the Nurtanio aircraft factory which later became IPTN, founded the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and Puspitek Serpong, many of whom opposed it," wrote A. Margana in an article in Tempo magazine entitled Ini Dia Habibie Broer (1992).
"It was considered unrealistic and not a priority for development at the time. Even now, the sound of the donation is still often heard. But Habibie kept going. He was always convinced that he was the right one. He is convinced of his idea that the future of the nation is determined by clever human resources, mastering technology," it says in a follow-up article.
Suharto gave Habibie the freedom to carry out his mandate. Nevertheless, Suharto gave only one note: do not wage revolution. Therefore Habibie executed the instructions from Suharto as best he could.
In leading the Ministry of Research and Technology, Habibie is an expert in all fields. Every idea issued by Habibie is always equipped with a clear strategy. Including when developing Puspiptek.
"Habibie, who developed the Indonesian aircraft industry at the time noticed an important scientific revolution that was taking place in the field of molecular biology, which was far from his field of expertise. This is proof of his visionary thinking as Minister of Research and Technology," sangkot Marzuki wrote, in his writing in The Conversation.
Puspiptek "Silicon Valley" IndonesiaUnder Habibie's leadership, puspiptek area was developed seriously. Habibie created the region by taking the example of the United States (US) technology innovation center, Silicon Valley.
At the time, Silicon Valley, located south of San Francisco, California, could hold two thousand tech development companies. Habibie was indirectly the first person to run the idea of creating a technology park and equipping it with supporting facilities, such as universities, innovation-based industries, and financial institutions.
"Although Puspiptek was not built exactly like Silicon Valley in California, a very similar model of a technology park where university researchers and entrepreneurs work together to innovate," said Sulfikar Amir in the book The Technological State in Indonesia (2012).
"They have similarities in terms of scientists and engineers clustered geographically within the area. In what is now Banten Province, Puspiptek was built as a special district, not only for the workplace, but also housing for researchers and other public facilities such as markets, religious facilities, and schools. It's a city in itself," he added.
Puspiptek built by Habibie in Serpong is on a thousand hectares of land. On the land stands a complex of 500 hectares containing laboratories and multidisciplinary research equipment in accordance with international standards.
The allocation of land, including 350 hectares for the technology industry and 150 hectares for the campus of the Indonesian Institute of Technology (ITI) and office complexes that also include the offices of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council, the Indonesian National Engineering Academy, to the Indonesian National Medical Academy.
Industry supportMore than that, Puspiptek was built to carry out its main function as an industrial support container. One of them, Pupspiptek is driven to face the problems faced by the Indonesian scientific community.
Among other things, the subject of limited labor, scarcity of funding, inadequate completeness, and low income. Habibie does not want to concentrate Puspiptek only in Serpong.
Habibie wants puspiptek-like institutions to be present in other areas. Puspiptek is considered a concrete action in the technology development agenda. All of that to keep up with the tastes of the times. Especially so that the Indonesian nation is no longer underdeveloped in the field of technology.
"And the sciences that need to be developed are not only to be developed in Puspiptek. Therefore, science and technology centers similar to Puspiptek are also built in other locations," habibie said in his speech at Pacific 2000: Global Challenge entitled Application of Advanced Technology in Developing Countries: The Case of Indonesia (1987).
"This includes a center in Cibinong, south of Jakarta, which will focus on biotechnology and genetic engineering and a marine science and technology center in Surabaya. Other centers in Bogor, Medan, Pasuruan and elsewhere that rely on agricultural research and experimentation stations built earlier in the century, will be further developed by following the development pattern of Puspiptek," he added.
*Read more information about ECONOMICS or read other interesting writings from Detha Arya Tifada.
Other BERNAS