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Reshuffle marks new era of research, innovation
A minor Cabinet reshuffle has ushered in a new era of science and innovation for Indonesia.
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President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (left) congratulates newly inaugurated Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim (right) and Investment Minister/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Bahlil Lahadalia (center) after their
inauguration ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday. The President also inaugurated Laksana Tri Handoko as head of the
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). (Handout/Presidential Secretariat/Rusman)
A
minor Cabinet reshuffle resulting from the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) as an independent state body and the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) as a ministry has ushered in a new era of science and innovation for Indonesia, in which scientists are expected to contribute more to economic development.
In his second Cabinet shake-up during the pandemic, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appointed on Wednesday Nadiem Makarim as the education, culture, research and technology minister. The 36-year-old former CEO of Gojek, the youngest person ever to lead the education and culture ministry, was given an expanded job scope after the President abolished the research and technology ministry to make way for the appointment of a new minister specially tasked with attracting investment.
The President also inaugurated Laksana Tri Handoko, the head of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), as the new chief of the BRIN, previously led by former research and technology minister Bambang Brodjonegoro. The agency will overhaul all research conducted by government bodies and universities.
Bahlil Lahadalia, the head of the BKPM, meanwhile, has been tapped as the nation’s first investment minister.
‘Direct economic impact’
Speaking after the inauguration, Laksana said that one of the targets Jokowi had given him was to ensure that research and development activities in the country could attract more investment to the science and technology sectors.
“We were given a target [by the President] to generate direct economic impacts from various research and innovation activities while also attracting new investment, both foreign and domestic, to the science and technology sectors,” Laksana said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
