AUSTRALIA

Research Sector 

• Minister Husic announced an MoU with Indonesia for an EV collaboration mechanism. 
• Minister Husic addressed the National Innovation Policy Forum. 
• The International Science Council’s Centre for Science Futures released The Contextualisation of Deficit: Reframing Trust in Science for Multilateral Policy
• STA welcomed the Industry Growth Program. The Tech Council also welcomed that program. 
• The Straits Times published “Plunging popularity of Bahasa among Australian students could hurt future ties with Indonesia.”

Digital transformation 

• The Lowy issued ‘Digital dominoes: Australia’s strategic play in the Pacific’, arguing that enhancing the region’s digital connectivity goes beyond influence, and must incorporate sharing prosperity and security too. 

• DTA issued ‘Strengthening clarity and accountability: the first update to interim guidance on generative AI’. 

• The Digital Platform Regulators Forum issued working papers on algorithms and AI 

• The Go8 said the Cyber Security Strategy recognises that research universities are integral to cyber innovation. 

• ATSE issued a collection of papers: ‘Responsible AI’. 

• CSIRO issued ‘Good AI, bad AI: decoding responsible artificial intelligence’.

Climate change 

• Melbourne Climate Futures (based out of the University of Melbourne) launched The Indo-Pacific Climate Change Hub, focused on enabling research, knowledge-sharing and leadership on adaptation, resilience and justice. Their focus areas are Health, Agriculture and Water, Just Energy Transitions, and Governance and Regulation. 

• The IEA issued ‘The Oil and Gas Industry in Net Zero Transitions’. 

• The Climate Council issued ‘What makes COP28 important’.

INDONESIA

Research and Technology

• The Indonesian Technology Innovation Foundation (INOTEK) collaborated with BRIN to promote the utilisation of research and innovation outcomes to support the development of technology-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
• The Electronics Research Centre (PRE) of the BRIN collaborated with PT Sanghiang Perkasa to research and develop metal catchers in the food industry.
• The Central Sulawesi Provincial Government has collaborated with BRIN in policy research to develop potential leading sectors to accelerate regional development.

Research and Innovation

• PT Prima Tirta Tekno Solusindo (PTTS) collaborated with the Metallurgy Research Centre (PRM) of the Nanotechnology and Materials Research Organisation (ORNM) of BRIN to develop a prototype of Electric Water Treatment and Electric Anti Scaling equipment to support electric vehicle technology.
• The Centre for Data Science and Information Research of BRIN is developing 3D Orthomosaic-based Environmental Modelling for Tsunami Simulation as Virtual Reality Content Support for the community.
• Indonesia ranked 5^th out of 132 countries in the Global Innovation Index for research and development collaboration between universities and industry in 2023. To raise it, The Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, through Kedaireka, collaborates with the Indonesian diaspora to escalate the collaboration between universities and industries to a global level.

Research and Funding

• The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) conducted a Socialisation Program on Research and Innovation Talent Management, culminating in the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between BRIN and 23 local universities, emphasising the crucial role of nurturing outstanding talents for Indonesia’s future success in the research and innovation landscape.

Research and Women

• The Acting Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nizam, emphasises that sexual harassment in the higher education environment is intolerable.
• The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) organized the Kick-off Meeting titled KONEKSI, “Forced Labour and Climate Change: Keeping a Focus on Women and Children” on Wednesday (22/11). The event underscores the urgent need for a multidisciplinary, gender-equitable approach to address climate impacts, emphasising gaps in legal protection.
• The prevalence of sexual violence, particularly on Yogyakarta’s campuses, raises collective concerns, prompting efforts to address the issue through the implementation of regulations and support services, as reported by Erlina Hidayati Sumardi, Head of the Empowerment of Women, Child Protection, and Population Control Agency.

Environment and Climate Change (ECC)

• PLN has prioritised a de-dieselisation programme for around 200 Diesel Power Plants (PLTD) in the Eastern Indonesian Region with more eco-friendly renewable energy sources (EBT). PLN also requests power generation experts from BRIN to begin designing small-scale biomass power plants.
• PLN inaugurated 21 units of green hydrogen plants in various regions of Indonesia, with a production capacity of 199 tons per year, to help achieve the Net Zero Emission (NZE) target by 2060.
• Researcher Riyan Achmad Budiman from the Center for Advanced Materials Research at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) presented his study titled “Introduction to the Degradation Phenomenon of Solid Oxide Cell”, which contributed to the government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero Emission (NZE) by 2060 with a primary focus on developing hydrogen as a clean energy source.
• PT PLN (Persero) aims to integrate nuclear power plants (PLTN) into the power system before 2040, aligning with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the National Energy Council’s plans to promote PLTN development, which targeted for commercial operation by 2032, aiming for a capacity of 9 GW by 2060, with BRIN actively involved in site selection and planning for PLTN construction in the 2030s.

Research and Disability

• Vice Chair of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly, Lestari Moerdijat, emphasized the necessity for collaboration in addressing teacher competency, equal distribution, and well-being, in the forum discussion titled “The Challenges of Teachers in Quality and Inclusive Education” held online on Wednesday (22/11).
• POLITEKNIK Pariwisata NHI Bandung takes a significant step towards inclusivity by organising a focused group discussion (FGD) to develop a guidebook for providing access to individuals with disabilities in festival planning and execution, aiming to enrich perspectives in the event and tourism industries.

Research and Licensing

• The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemenkominfo) is working on a Government Regulation (PP) concerning artificial intelligence (AI), targeted for completion before October 2024, with a focus on regulating the ethical use of AI, led by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and undergoing testing by relevant ministries before harmonization by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham).

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Updates supported by Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)