AUSTRALIA

Climate Change 

• ANU Energy Update 2023 coming up on November 28 (online tickets available).The event will cover the latest in trajectories for decarbonisation, discuss accelerating the roll-out of renewables on the grid, and examine opportunities for renewable energy-based exports. It was also announced that the ANU Climate Update 2024 will be held on Monday 5 February 2024. 

• The EUAA said Treasurer Chalmers mapped out a pragmatic framework to achieve net zero. 

• The Lowy issued ‘Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) is a glass half full’.

GEDSI 

• ATSE issued a Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit to tackle shortages of people with STEM skills. 

• The Lowy issued ‘COP28: Why a gender power divide threatens climate progress‘. 

K2I 

• IPA issued ‘Intellectual property: commercialisation and collaboration in focus’. 

Reminder: 

• Australian Academy of Science Symposium on International Collaboration is Tuesday 14 November. Discussion paper found here, and Symposium program and online registration found here.

INDONESIA

Research and Technology

• The Indonesian government reaffirms its commitment to promote inclusive and beneficial AI technology development for all nations worldwide.
• Google Indonesia, Gojek, Tokopedia, and Traveloka have collaborated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology to train 1,000 individuals in free digital training.
• BRIN, the Surabaya State Polytechnic of Shipping (PPNS), and PT Krakatau Steel (KS), have agreed to establish a tripartite collaboration concerning the study of welding characteristics of steel materials to support the technology for the production of mini LNG ships.

Research and Innovation

• The Head of the BRIN, Laksana Tri Handoko, stated that the research resources consolidation can increase Indonesia’s Global Innovation Index from 85 to 61.
• BRIN applies the TRIZ method for research and innovation in appropriate technology equipment from high school to university levels.
• LPDP funds the Consortium of Vocational Education Provider Universities (PTPPV) in launching the “Strengthening the Ecosystem of Partnerships between Vocational Education Units-Local Governments-Businesses and Industries in North Sulawesi” programme as the grand design for research and innovation development in North Sulawesi.
• Sido Muncul Spice Research Centre (PPRS), BRIN, and several universities are collaborating and producing superior seedlings to secure a sustainable supply since 2022.

Research and Funding

• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology pushed Indonesian students to carry out more research as research projects conducted in Indonesia from 2019 to 2022 are still relatively low, with 46,043 research titles in eleven focus areas and a total funding of IDR 3.9 trillion.
• The Ministry of Education and Culture and Research and Technology is urging all universities in Indonesia to collaborate with the elements of Pentahelix through various programmes.
• The Head of the BRIN, Laksana Tri Handoko, is offering a joint research funding scheme to the member countries of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 
• Presidential and vice-presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka plan to increase research and innovation funding to approximately 1.5% to 2% of the GDP.

Research and Women

• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology emphasized its commitment to the Ministerial Regulation Number 30 of 2021 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in Higher Education Environments.

Environment and Climate Change (ECC)

• Academics, practitioners, and business actors, scrutinize the discourse of the 2024 presidential candidates regarding their plans for green and blue economies. Critics say that Indonesia still needs to prove to investors that the political elite has minimal conflicts of interest that can prevent the accelerated implementation of the green economy.
• Yonvitner, the Head of the Coastal and Marine Resource Study Centre at IPB University, has evaluated that the three pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates are advocating distinct maritime visions. Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka is concentrating on implementing a maritime vision akin to the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for 2024-2029. In contrast, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD aspires for an advanced and sustainable maritime state, while Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar emphasises the agro-maritime revolution.
• The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) stated that a roadmap for  2023-2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been developed in collaboration with the National SDGs Coordination Team.

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Updates supported by Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)