BRIN-ANSTO Explore Nuclear Research Cooperation for Health and Food Security

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) are exploring ways to strengthen their collaboration in nuclear research and technology. A meeting held in Jakarta on Monday, August 10, 2026, discussed opportunities for cross-border cooperation in areas ranging from accelerators and research reactors to health and food security.

Head of BRIN’s Accelerator Technology Research Center, Muhammad Rifai, stated that his agency is opening a collaborative platform for researchers from various countries to work alongside Indonesian scientists. He invited other international research institutions and universities to join these joint projects.

He said this cooperation encompasses not only research but also human resource development through researcher exchanges, joint visits, and postdoctoral programs. He believes that the knowledge transfer resulting from these activities will strengthen nuclear technology capabilities in both the domestic and partner nations.

Representing Australia, Prof. Andrew Gareth Peele, Group Executive for Nuclear Science and Technology at ANSTO, said the initiative aims to strengthen existing ties while amplifying the research impact of both institutions. He emphasized that collaboration allows both parties to share research challenges and access necessary infrastructure.

Peele asserted that the success of international research collaboration should not be measured solely by the number of scientific publications. The knowledge generated, he noted, must be translated into tangible benefits for industry and the general public in both countries.

ANSTO possesses research reactors and large-scale infrastructure that have long been utilized not only by Australian researchers but also by the global scientific community. These facilities serve as a major draw for international partners including Indonesia to establish nuclear research collaborations.

The collaboration between BRIN and ANSTO is expected to expand the benefits of nuclear science for global development needs, spanning sectors from health and the environment to industry. Both institutions agreed that the exchange of knowledge and the strengthening of researcher capacity would be key to delivering research outcomes with a broad impact on the global community.