Government Directs Campus Research Funds for Impactful Results

JAKARTA - The government has begun directing university research budgets to produce innovations that can be applied and have a real impact on society and industry.

Secretary of State Prasetyo Hadi said President Prabowo Subianto had previously approved the addition of research funds. Currently, its use is being prepared in conjunction with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Bappenas, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

"Research is now really directed towards something that is expected to have an impact," Prasetyo told reporters after opening the Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI) 2026 at the JICC, Jakarta, Friday (26/6).

According to Prasetyo, discussions regarding the addition of scholarships had indeed emerged in informal government communications. However, until now it has not been a major agenda in the President's meeting with academics.

The government's current focus is to ensure that research results do not stop as scientific works, but are able to support national development needs.

Prasetyo said that KSTI 2026 was attended by around 2,600 rectors, deans, professors, academics, and around 300 BRIN researchers. The forum is expected to produce various recommendations to strengthen the national research and innovation ecosystem.