Puspiptek Serpong Inaugurated By President Suharto In History Today, December 18, 1984

JAKARTA History today, 38 years ago, December 18, 1984, President Suharto inaugurated the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek) in Serpong, Tangerang, Banten. He was accompanied by the Minister of Research and Technology (Menristek), Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie.

The inauguration of the largest research area in Indonesia is proof that the New Order (Orba) government cares about the development of science and technology. Therefore, Puspiptek is also planned to be built in various places in the archipelago.

Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo pioneered the idea of developing Puspiptek. Menristek, who is also known as the father of Prabowo Subianto, considers the advancement of science and technology important. Moreover, both of them are the main keys to becoming a world-class country.

However, the dream did not continue. Soemitro's career as Minister of Research and Technology ended quickly. He was replaced by Habibie. His replacement was initiated directly by Suharto. The New Order ruler has the belief that Habibie will bring major changes to the world of science and technology in the country.

Suharto also conveyed three important instructions directly to Habibie, just before he served as Minister of Research and Technology in 1974. One, Habibie was allowed to create an aircraft industry. Second, regarding the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology. Third, the development of the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek).

The three clues are often Habibie's guide during his time as Minister of Research and Technology. Mainly in the development of Puspiptek. He wants to build the largest research area in Indonesia that resembles the technological park' of the United States of Silcon Valley.

Although Puspiptek is not built exactly like Silicon Valley in California, a very similar model of a technology park where researchers and university entrepreneurs work together to innovate.

"They have similarities in terms of geographically grouped scientists and engineers in areas. In areas now Banten Province, Puspiptek is built as a special district, not only for workplaces, but also housing for researchers and other public facilities such as markets, religious facilities, and schools. This is a separate city, "said Sulfikar Amir in the book The Technological State in Indonesia (2012).

The New Order government also prepared a thousand hectares of land for the construction of Puspiptek in Serpong. The plan is for the land to stand an area of 500 hectares containing laboratories and multidisplin research equipment. From offices to universities. Everything is with international standards.

The construction of Puspiptek was completed. President Soeharto was then accompanied by Habibie to inaugurate Puspiptek Serpong on December 18, 1984. He hopes that the presence of Puspiptek in Serpong can bring fresh air to the world of Indonesian research. Puspiptek's presence can also provoke the presence of Puspiptek-Puspiptek in other areas.

Another interesting thing is Habibie's support for Puspiptek. He even continued to take care of Puspiptek even though he no longer held the mandate as a public official. Especially when the Puspiptek issue emerged that it would be changed to a golf course in the 2010s era. He was angry, not playing.

Then Habibie expressed his surprise and annoyance because Puspipitek in Serpong, which was originally founded, is currently neglected, is not used as a technology test laboratory, instead there is an idea to turn it into a golf course there. Habibie said that if I dared to make a golf course there, then I would stand against it, "A. Makmur Makka in the book Inspiration of Habibie (2020).