Studium Genrale: National Innovation System
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id - Technology innovation has always been less-publicized than politics. Lately, the trend is starting to shift in favor of the first. More and more people, especially governmental officials, have started to pay more attention to technology innovations and realize the crucial role they play in the nation's competitiveness.
"Right now, Indonesia at a transitional phase from Factor-Driven to Efficiency-Driven in technolgy. We predict that in 2025, we will be Innovation-Driven; equal to the main driver in developed countries," said National Minister on Research and Technology Suharna Surapranata in the Studium Generale class' 6th appointment last March in Campus West Hall.
Suharna added that the application of life-changing technologies among the people and government bodies is still very low. Even so, Indonesia's innovation potential, according to many researches, is only third in South-East Asia after Singapore and Malaysia. He said one of the biggest problems in innovation is that the existing researches and innovations aren't synergized to empower and benefit each other.
Students' Strategic Role
Students as the main actor of the nation's development, is required to participate in contributing towards future technology innovations. One of the few good examples of a synergized program that involves students was the Ganesha Lamp, which provided village populations with affordable lighting. Of course local governments should be more active in maximizing students' roles in their programs.
In closing, Suharna encouraged and motivated everyone in the class to seek new ways to increase the well-being of the nation through technology. He hopes that Indonesia would become an Innovation Nation capable of competing with even developed countries.
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