Engage stakeholders from the private sector in R&D
Innovation policymakers need to reach out to other stakeholders, especially in the private sector. Accessing international best practice or increasing the private sector’s role in R&D investment would also accelerate learning.
“We need to appeal to the private sector to invest more in R&D.”
Reinforce capacity to scale up national product adoption by the industry
Innovation policymakers need to play an active role in brokering innovation and coordinating the system, thereby increasing engagement and interaction between innovation actors. There is also a need to improve the coherence of relevant supporting frameworks.
“Our researchers complain a lot that the industry doesn’t want to use their products.”
Encourage innovation actors in the public sector to collaborate
In terms of innovation policy in Indonesia, there are four main agencies that are very relevant for the innovation ecosystem: Bappenas, Ristekdikti, Kemenperin, and Kemenkeu. To improve the innovation ecosystem in Indonesia more coherent policies are required and engagement between agencies needs to be improved.
A need to improve R&D in the country by focusing on improving the funding system
There is a highly fragmented R&D and innovation governance structure, with few attempts at overall coordination until only recently. This coordination can ensure that the country’s R&D policymaking process can clearly regulate all stakeholder roles. There is also a need to improve the regulation of research funding in Indonesia, whereby funding priorities are set and a mechanism is implemented to ensure that funds are invested strategically.
Making policy future-proof
Policymakers are too focused on past policy successes. They need to stay current and open to new breakthroughs in policymaking. By increasing engagement with other systems and unusual suspects they will be exposed to new ideas and ways of doing things. Making future-proof policies also means improving policy implementation, notably the capacity of administrations to deliver, monitor and evaluate innovation policies and programmes.
“Policymakers should always stay updated. Policies should be made by considering all the possible and relevant scenarios.”
