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US, Indonesia encourage university research partnerships
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Precious collection: A scientist shows vials of microbe species stored at the Indonesian Culture Collection (INACC), a microbe storage center owned by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in Cibinong, West Java. (JP/Theresia Sufa)
T
he Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry's research and community services director Ocky Karna Radjasa and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) acting mission director David Hoffman opened on Tuesday the 1st Collaboration for Innovation conference at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) in Bogor, West Java, asserting commitments to closer scientific research partnerships in the future.
This is the first annual gathering of university partners and stakeholders of the USAID Sustainable Higher Education Research Alliance (SHERA) program, a collaborative research partnership program between select Indonesian and American universities implemented by the ministry.
“The US, through USAID, has a long history of supporting science, technology and innovative research in Indonesia. We are proud to continue this commitment through the SHERA program,” said Hoffman, as quoted in a statement released by the US Embassy on Wednesday.
USAID SHERA partnerships aim to increase the capacity of Indonesian higher education institutions to find solutions to the country’s most pressing development challenges. The program supports five centers for collaborative research (CCR) in science, technology and innovation in five leading universities.
They are: the University of Indonesia (UI), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), the University of Padjadjaran (Unpad), Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and IPB. These universities foster research collaborations with 17 other universities across Indonesia and eight universities in the US. The research subjects range from clean water distribution and food security to renewable energy solutions.
“Private sectors have demanded innovative ideas that are ready for immediate use — that is, ready to market and commercialize. It’s our responsibility to foster the CCRs in such a way that the research results have market value for the private sector,” said Ocky. (ebf)
