In 2019, the budget target for research works would be set at 1 percent of the country`s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up from only 0.09 percent at present.
Serpong, W Java (ANTARA News) - The government begins to attach greater importance on research saying the budget for research would be increased to improve the countrys capacity for innovation.

Minister for Research and Technology and Higher Educational Institutes Mohamad Nasir said in 2019, the budget target for research works would be set at 1 percent of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up from only 0.09 percent at present.

For that purpose the government would be more aggressive in mediating inventors and the business sector, the minister said.

"The target has to be reached in 2019 and we would continue to encourage industrialists to raise fund for their research activities," he said on the sidelines of a National Forum of Inventors-Innovators-Investors 2015 here on Wednesday.

There should be synergy between inventors, innovators, and investors to improve and develop innovation, he added.

He said local products of innovation are often not up to standards required by investors.

"We do have many innovations . Last year there were 106 products of innovation we made but did not match the market requirement that they could not be used by investors," her said.

He said high cost is one of the factors that the country is still behind in innovation .

Therefore, he asked researchers and and technologists to make a breakthrough .

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Human and Cultural Development Puan Maharani asked scientists and technologists to be more focused.

"The classical challenge faced by Indonesian scientists and technologists is limited fund. There should be grand design to show on which we have to be more focused . We dont have develop all technologies," Puan said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015