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Megawati’s possible BRIN role raises fresh concerns
Move could curb researchers’ independence, innovation
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hen the government announced its decision to dissolve the Research and Technology Ministry and bestow the authority to oversee research upon the National Research Agency (BRIN), researchers were quick to raise concerns that such a move would put less attention on the state of science and innovation in the country.
Their worries were amplified recently after the possibility arose that the research agency would have Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri as the head of its steering committee, bringing fresh concerns over a politicized research and innovation environment in the country.
On April 28, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo signed Presidential Regulation No. 33/2021 on BRIN, which serves as a guideline for, among other issues, the agency’s structure.
According to the regulation, the agency will have a steering committee tasked with providing input to the BRIN chairman in formulating policies and overseeing research to be in line with state ideology Pancasila.
The regulation also mandates that the committee be led by a member of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education’s (BPIP) steering committee.
Many speculated that this particular provision referred to Megawati, who is the head of the BPIP’s steering committee.
Read also: 'Our own people' first: Megawati urges research body not to lean on foreign scientists
BRIN chairman Laksana Tri Handoko, who was inaugurated by President Jokowi on April 28, recently confirmed Megawati's position on the research agency’s steering committee, as reported by local media.
Laksana, however, declined The Jakarta Post’s request for further comment on the political party matron’s role in the BRIN.
Previously, the PDI-P issued a statement claiming that Megawati had told Jokowi about the importance of the BRIN as a national research agency when backing him as a presidential candidate. The party said the chairwoman emphasized the importance of having the BRIN to build the nation’s spirit by mastering science and technology.
PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said the party supported Megawati’s potential role on the BRIN’s steering committee. He argued that the role fit with the former Indonesian president’s track record of advocating the importance of science and technology over the years.
“Ibu Megawati consistently emphasized the importance of mastering basic sciences, research and innovation [for the nation’s interest],” he said in a statement recently.
The President established the BRIN at the beginning of his second presidential term in October 2019. The agency had the same status as the Research and Technology Ministry in the Cabinet, with Bambang Brodjonegoro appointed to lead the ministry and the agency.
But the government merged the Research and Technology Ministry with the Education and Culture Ministry, with then-education and culture minister Nadiem Makarim appointed as the new minister. Meanwhile, the BRIN was established as an independent entity with Laksana as its head.
Read also: Ministry merger feared to jeopardize focus on science, research
Researchers reacted strongly to Megawati’s appointment as the research agency’s steering committee head, saying such a move could potentially curb researchers’ independence in pursuing scientific innovation in the country.
“[Megawati’s position on the steering committee] can potentially have negative consequences for researchers. For example, the BRIN can interfere or decide not to fund research that opposes the [interests of] a steering committee member,” said Berry Juliandi of the Indonesian Young Scientists Forum (IYSF).
He urged the government to consider appointing reputable scientists with distinguished track records as the remaining members of the steering committee to accompany Megawati, who has relatively little experience in scientific research.
According to the presidential regulation, the BRIN’s steering committee will also have a deputy head as well as a secretary and other members. The regulation mandates that the other positions on the committee be filled with academics or other professionals with experience and track records in research and innovation.
In addition to the ramifications of the steering committee establishment, Center for Innovation Policy and Governance (CIPG) advisor Yanuar Nugroho said the agency would also face a tough challenge in integrating various research agencies under a single institution.
The regulation outlines the BRIN’s role in conducting nationwide integrated research and development efforts. The national-level research agency will evaluate the work of similar agencies at the provincial, city or regency levels.
In a statement issued by the BRIN, Laksana held a meeting with officials from various national research agencies on Wednesday, in which he laid out the agency’s major directions and targets following the issuance of the regulation. Among the targets was a consolidation of all main government research bodies by Jan. 1, 2022.
Since its establishment, the BRIN was expected to unify national research agencies and all ministries’ research and development units under one institution. Among the national agencies integrated under the BRIN are the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan).
Read also: Reshuffle marks new era of research, innovation
“It will be a tough and complicated job to merge various research agencies. The BRIN will be ineffective on its first days and hindered from fully performing its duties on overseeing research,” said Yanuar.
He added the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry, which is tasked with formulating policies on research and innovation implemented by the BRIN, would also be preoccupied with administrative issues following the merger of the two ministries.
The situation would likely leave the BRIN without a clear policy directive in the short term, Yanuar went on to say.
