BRIN prepares a research roadmap 2026-2045, from food to AI

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency or BRIN together with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is drafting a roadmap for Indonesian research 2026-2045. This document will be the direction of national research for the next two decades.

BRIN Head Arif Satria said the roadmap was prepared together with the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. The plan is for the document to be launched in August, coinciding with Technology Day.

"The roadmap for Indonesian research 2026-2045 was compiled together between BRIN and the Ministry of Science and Technology which will be launched later in August, on Technology Day," said Arif at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 7.

According to Arif, the roadmap will be used to sharpen the research theme. From the document, the government can form a research group that oversees strategic areas.

Arif said that BRIN's current research focus refers to President Prabowo Subianto's priority programs. The fields include food, energy, environment, water, health, housing, and strategic industries.

"If from the BRIN side, we are currently focusing on the President's priorities. The priority is to escort the President's priority programs," said Arif.

He said a number of sectors would receive attention. Among them are the space industry, nuclear, semiconductors, computers, artificial intelligence or AI, and omicscience.

Omicscience is a research approach that reads biological data on a large scale, including genomics. In the field of food, this approach can be used to develop genetically informed products.

"Things related to strategies in the semiconductor, computer, AI fields, we will also control. So the issue of sustainability, the issue of AI, and omicscience, how to produce food products based on genomics," said Arif.

However, Arif emphasized that Indonesian research is not only directed at advanced technology. According to Arif, medium technology and appropriate technology must also be monitored because the community needs solutions that can be used immediately.

"Advanced technology, intermediate technology, and appropriate technology, we will control all three," he said.

Arif said BRIN has researchers and research facilities. Universities also have many talents. The two need to be brought together so that research does not run on its own or overlap.

"BRIN has good talent, has good facilities. The campus also has good talent. We must synergize this, so that there is no overlap in research," he said.

The research roadmap will also be the basis for further discussions on the Academic Task Force. Arif emphasized that what was launched in August was a research roadmap, not a task force.

"Regarding the Task Force, we continue to discuss with the Minister," said Arif.

According to Arif, the government will still look at research topics that are priorities. After that, research groups can be formed to monitor projects that are considered strategic.

Meanwhile, regarding research funding, it will be carried out jointly between BRIN and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

"Sharing. From the Ministry of Science and Technology there is, from BRIN there is. But it is clear that the team is together," he said.

With the roadmap, the government wants research not to stop as a document. Arif emphasized that research must be able to support priority programs, from food and energy to advanced technologies such as AI, nuclear, semiconductors, and space.