Indonesia will be setting up three new additional science techno parks this year as part of their prioritised national programs.
According to a recent report, the three additional ones will add to the current 18 existing techno parks, pushing them a bit closer to the government’s target of setting up 100 science techno parks (STPs).
Science Techno Parks
The 100 targeted STPs, however, is difficult to achieve because of a number of factors that include the lack of scientists who are essential for its development.
In order to address that issue, the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education collaborated with public universities as well as non-ministerial agencies that can provide the scientists that they lacked.
These include the National Nuclear Energy Agency and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.
This collaboration will provide the opportunity to open STPs at public universities.
As reported, the development of the parks is one of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s nine national priorities to improve the country’s productivity and competitiveness in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, mining and fisheries.
Research and Innovation in Science and Technology Project
In 2013, the Ministry has introduced the Research and Innovation in Science and Technology Project (Riset Pro).
This project was designed to support the STPs by promoting the products developed by the people in these techno parks.
This collaboration will pave the way for innovative domestic products to penetrate the Indonesian market.
The electric scooter produced by the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, for instance, will be sold immediately in the domestic market.
One of the components of Riset Pro is to improve the framework of innovation-related policies.
It will also revitalise research institutions in the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, the National Nuclear Energy Agency, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space.
Existing STPs
Meanwhile, the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) already has its own science techno park, known as the IPB Science Techno Park.
It focuses on several segments including bio-science, food production, and tropical agriculture. Products from the park will be sold to the market with assistance from the Indonesian government.
OpenGov Asia recently reported on Science Techno Park to support Indonesian research and innovation.
Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology has taken a serious step towards becoming a research university with the inauguration of the University’s Science Techno Park and Incubator facilities.
The Techno Park’s masterplan included three study centres covering seven fields of study in the University.
These study centres are the Maritime Centre, the Creative Centre, and the Automotive Centre.
Hopefully, this will create an innovation ecosystem involving the academy, start-up companies, the government, and the community.
