Indonesia Calls on Universities to Drive Local Economic Growth Through Research

Indonesia’s higher education ministry has urged universities to play a stronger role in supporting local economic development by aligning research with regional needs and resources. Speaking in Jakarta, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie said universities must go beyond academic publication to deliver practical benefits for communities. The call reflects a broader policy focus on innovation, downstreaming and collaboration with local industry to ensure research contributes directly to economic resilience and public welfare.

Research as a driver of regional economic value

Christie said research should sit at the core of a university’s mission, distinguishing higher education from primary and secondary schooling. While earlier stages of education focus on knowledge transfer, universities are expected to generate new knowledge and innovation that responds to local potential.

“Research is the heart of a university’s progress. Through strong and sustainable research, universities do more than just produce scientific publications; they provide real solutions that add value to the local economy and community welfare,” — Stella Christie, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology

She added that strengthening research culture is essential to ensuring innovation remains relevant to regional conditions, communities and industries. This approach aligns with wider government efforts to build institutional capacity and policy coherence across sectors, including education and digital governance, as seen in other national initiatives such as regulation and support platforms in the public sector.

University of Riau research highlights local resource potential

As an example, Christie pointed to ongoing research at the University of Riau (Unri), including projects focused on biomass energy and the utilisation of natural rubber. These initiatives are designed to support the development of resource-based regional industries while strengthening the university’s contribution to local economic growth.

One project involves using natural rubber latex as a binder in emulsion paint, replacing imported synthetic materials. According to the ministry, this innovation could increase the added value of rubber commodities, strengthen local industrial ecosystems based on natural resources, and improve the welfare of rubber farmers.

Clear roadmaps and stronger downstreaming

The deputy minister stressed that high-quality research must be supported by clear roadmaps, measurable targets and an understanding of the wider ecosystem, including communities, industry partners and local governments. Economic analysis and downstreaming were highlighted as critical to ensuring research outcomes can be adopted more easily outside academia.

“We want universities to do more than just produce scientific publications; they must also utilise Indonesia’s natural wealth to foster innovations that provide real benefits for the community and the economy,” — Stella Christie, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology

She also confirmed that the government is promoting collaboration between universities and cooperatives through the Red and White Village Cooperative programme, enabling research outputs to be used directly by the public. This emphasis on practical application mirrors other cross-sector reforms, including efforts to strengthen institutional trust and implementation capacity in areas such as digital security and public service delivery.

The comments were reported by ANTARA News.