A current study by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) shows that poor management, consisting of lack of coordination and ineffective financial management, has obstructed Indonesia’s research and advancement (R&D) efforts.
The KPK discovered that Indonesian researchers had not effectively utilized their research study funding, particularly those researchers at universities, community cooperation and empowerment institution ( LKPM) and government research study organizations at ministries, state companies and local administrations.
A number of the items that were produced from research and supporting facilities were nonaccountable, specifically university research products, the findings exposed. The antigraft agency had actually received lots of reports on fictitious and overlapping research study tasks, as well as big amounts of unused research funds.
” For the KPK, it was important to study the research study sector, as there are many research institutions throughout ministries, firms and regional administrations [that have no] coordination. They are extensively spread and messy, with no instructions on Indonesia’s research study focus,” KPK commissioner Nurul Ghufron stated at a press conference on Tuesday.
He included that the lack of coordination obstructed the procedure of approving proposed research study budget plans.
Nurul stated that the lack of a coordinating body indicated that the country ' s research study efforts had no clear direction.
” If the instructions is unclear, the [research's] contribution and effectiveness to Indonesia will likewise be bleak,” he stated.
Nurul recommended that the government should set up a coded system for research study jobs and tag research budgets to keep track of funding.
Tracking the funds was important, as the KPK research study discovered that just 23 out of 87 ministries and agencies noted a research study spending plan on their annual work and spending plan plans (RKA-KL). Furthermore, numerous of these ministries and companies did not assign the research budget plan to their R&D department, and instead made a list of the budget plan for other purposes, which compounded efforts to track the financing.
The funds that the KPK study could track down amounted to around 0.25 percent of Indonesia’s gdp (GDP). This was a reasonably low figure compared to other nations, most of which allocated a typical 2.63 percent of GDP towards research and development.
The KPK suggested that other policies be released on research management, such as those that specified and managed research study financing usage, management and ethics, in addition to a code of principles for researchers to regulate compliance with national science and innovation standards.
In October 2019, President Joko Widodo established the National Research study and Innovation Company (BRIN) to consolidate R&D efforts in the country under the previous Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry.
The ministry then prepared the 2017-2045 National Research Master Plan (RIRN) to improve the nation’s long-lasting R&D needs. The 2017-2045 RIRN was then followed by the advancement of the 2020-2024 National Research Study Concern (PRN).
But the BRIN has been beset with troubles in consolidating the nation ' s R&D efforts across the numerous research study organizations, mostly due to minimal funds and untracked funding.
” To reach the [RIRN and PRN] targets, we require to combine and coordinate all resources, scientists in addition to funding and possessions like laboratories,” Research Study and Technology Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, who also heads the BRIN, said at Tuesday ' s press occasion. In taking full advantage of these resources, “we can make sure the effectiveness and efficiency of [research projects]”, he said.
Nevertheless, he concurred that the ministry needed to create a new method of coordination to manage university research.
KPK commissioner Nurul included that following the structural changes, the commission would adjust its recommendations and action prepare for the research study sector, which it originally submitted to the ministry in 2019.
” To integrate [national R&D], we need gain access to and authority over those organizations and their activities in research study, advancement and application,” stated Bambang, including that more regulation was needed to enhance the BRIN’s role and authority.
The minister authorized a Rp 1.37 trillion (US$98 million) budget in January 2020 to fund 16,048 university research study projects and 12,248 non-university research tasks this year.
