Indonesia

Indonesia has much to offer the world.

Being abundant in natural resources, the country’s research strengths are in agriculture, the environment, and energy.

Its rich biodiversity could allow it, for example, to pioneer cutting-edge research into pressing issues such as the effect of climate change on forests and oceans. Its geothermal stores allow for experimentation with generating renewable energy from the earth as well as through solar and wind sources. With food insecurity on the rise, Indonesia could also pioneer agricultural techniques that improve food productivity and nutrition.

While Indonesia is not lacking in scientific ambition, decades of neglect have left its infrastructure still too weak to build a robust Research and Development (R&D) system.

For now, the country needs to invest in the basics, ensuring that the foundation for good scientific practice is strong. It will also need the right people to make this happen, and it must focus on producing and rewarding high-quality researchers who are adept at critical thinking rather than just churning out high numbers of graduates.

This report is the fourth country study to be published as part of the Atlas of Islamic World Science and Innovation project.

Recommendations for Indonesia

• Launch a national science fund
• Incentivise innovative research
• Empower education for a stronger workforce
• Develop infrastructure for better connectivity
• Remunerate researchers and offer career progression
• Promote collaboration by reducing bureaucracy
• Become a global leader in renewable energy and biodiversity research

Project partners

• The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
• Nature
• The Statistical, Economic and Social Research & Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC)
• The British Council
• The International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
• The Qatar Foundation
• The Islamic Development Bank
• COMSTECH
• The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)

We also work with national research partners on the production of each case study.