RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has urged universities in Indonesia to act as drivers for national self-reliance amid global geopolitical shifts and dynamics. The message was delivered during a meeting with around 1,200 rectors and professors from state and private universities across Indonesia at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Thursday, 15 January 2026.

In a press statement, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto reiterated the President’s message on the strategic role of universities in strengthening the nation’s self-reliance.

Brian conveyed that President Prabowo considers university leaders or rectors and professors as the brains of the country, entrusted with the responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to society.

“The President noted that the university leaders and especially the professors are the brains of our country. So, it is a gathering of smart people who are expected to be useful for society, the nation, and the state,” Brian Yuliarto said.

During the meeting, President Prabowo highlighted the rapidly changing global geopolitical landscape, which requires every country to be self-reliant. According to Brian, in this context, universities are expected to act as the locomotive for national mastery of science and technology.

“The hope is that the professors and university leaders will become the heroes of our nation by creating breakthroughs in science- and technology-based industries, which ultimately can build major industries in Indonesia and increase revenue for our country,” Minister Brian said.

As a concrete form of support, President Prabowo has also increased the research and innovation budget by IDR 4 trillion.According to Brian, universities will be directed to support innovation and breakthroughs in 18 strategic industrial research projects, ranging from waste-to-energy initiatives to mineral and food downstream industries, with the aim of achieving national self-reliance.