Indonesia Boosts Research Consortiums to Address Strategic Issues

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian government and universities expand national research collaboration to produce innovations with tangible impact for society and industry. The effort was highlighted during a discussion on the latest direction of research and innovation policy held by Universitas Indonesia in Depok on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

The event served as a strategic forum for deputy rectors for research and innovation from state universities with legal entity status to discuss the formation of research consortiums in addressing various national strategic issues collaboratively.

According to the official website of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the Directorate General of Research and Development emphasized that Indonesia’s national research policy is now focused on cross-sector collaboration and the downstreaming of research results to make them more applicable and relevant to public needs.

Director General of Research and Development, Fauzan Adziman, stated that the consortium approach is important to unite the strengths of universities in responding to national challenges through measurable and practical research.

“Research must start from real problems so that the results can be implemented and provide clear solutions,” he said.

For information, research consortium refers to a form of cooperation among institutions such as universities, government agencies, industries, and research organizations working together within a unified research framework to achieve specific goals. Through this approach, research is expected to become more focused, measurable, and have stronger downstreaming potential.

The government is also encouraging the strengthening of the research ecosystem through the integration of various funding sources, including ministry budgets, support from research institutions, and the utilization of endowment funds to ensure the sustainability of national research programs.

In addition, research priorities are directed toward strategic issues such as food security, climate change, and healthcare.

To support these efforts, the Directorate General of Research and Development is also developing research platforms that connect research outcomes with industrial needs while expanding the use of technology.

In the context of downstreaming, the transformation of research results into ready-to-use products and innovations continues to be strengthened through partnerships with industry, including joint funding schemes and the use of methods and indicators to measure research readiness and utilization.

“Collaboration, funding integration, and the use of the right framework will accelerate downstreaming and ensure research delivers real benefits,” he remarked.