Megawati Asks For Regional Research Agency To Be Formed, Ganjar Pranowo Answers Immediately: Central Java Already

Photo via Central Java Provincial Government

JAKARTA - Chair of the Steering Committee of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Megawati Soekarnoputri has encouraged regional heads in Indonesia to immediately form the Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA) so that the potential in the regions can be optimized.

This was conveyed by Megawati in her speech via online at the Kick Off event for the establishment of BRIDA at the BRIN office in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 20 yesterday. The event was attended by a number of regional heads, including the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo and other regional heads. In addition, the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian and the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy were also present.

"I encourage BRIDA to be formed immediately. We must improve research and innovation in order to optimize the potential in the region," said Megawati.

Further research and innovation needs support in Indonesia. This is because research and technology have not yet received serious attention.

"Even though many Indonesian children are smart, why does our research work seem to be underdeveloped," he said.

With research and innovation, Megawati continued, Indonesia could become a developed country. Megawati continued, BRIN and BRIDA are one way that can be boosted.

"I ask the regions to immediately form BRIDA in the regions. So you don't have to wait anymore," he concluded.

Meanwhile, in the talk show session of the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo became one of the speakers. Ganjar said that since the launch of BRIN, his party has followed up by establishing BRIDA in Central Java.

"We have formed BRIDA and currently the process is still waiting for approval from the DPRD. We continue to push for this to take place immediately," he said.

Ganjar confirmed that research and innovation are the keys to regional development. With this research and innovation, the policies taken will not be wrong because they are based on in-depth studies.

"If we don't use research, our policies will be wrong. With this BRIDA, many of our decisions will be made according to the results of existing research," he said.

He gave an example in food politics. Currently, there are two commodities that are still difficult to fulfill, namely garlic and soybeans. In fact, Indonesia is a fertile area that might be able to develop these two commodities.

"So BRIDA has one of its roles for that, how to solve the soybean and garlic problem. If it's hard to find seeds, why don't we make our own superior seeds. I'm sure we can," he said.

Regarding innovation, Central Java can be said to be the most innovative area. So far, Ganjar requires one OPD to have at least one community service innovation.

"And that has worked, I have also mobilized young people through Hetero Space to support research and innovation in the field of start-ups. The innovations of these young people have started to emerge, we are collaborating with campuses, companies and others so that it can run," he concluded.

In addition to being a speaker, on that occasion Ganjar also received an award from BRIN. The award was given to Ganjar for his enthusiasm to build BRIDA in their respective regions.