AUSTRALIA

Climate change and energy

• Net Zero chair the Hon Greg Combet addressed the National Press Club.
• The Prime Minister announced the billion dollar Solar SunShot manufacturing program, which will provide subsidies and grants to establish Australia’s position in the solar supply chain and leverage strengths in critical minerals. This was welcomed by ATSE.
• A new research publication discusses the nexus of green development and resource management.

Digital transformation

• The International Science Council has released a working paper on the integration of AI into science and research ecosystems.
• The federal government has extended the life of the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre to ensure its R&D program can reach translation and commercialisation stages.
• ASPI issued ‘Governing AI in the global disorder’.
• CSIRO issued ‘Large language models in health: useful, not a miracle cure’.

Innovation

• The 2024 Australia Indonesia Business Council National Conference will be held in Sydney from 11-13 November 2024 on the theme“Invested Australia/Indonesia”: The Time is now/Sekarang Waktunya.” The program will include discussion on key industry sectors, including Healthcare, Education and Skills, Clean Energy, and the Digital Economy.
• CSIRO announced $20m for its SME Connect program, supporting start-ups and SME’s to engage in company-led research projects.
• The Lowy issued ‘Australia’s Southeast Asia trade stumbling block’.

GEDSI

• The Equality Institute (EQI) in consultation with the Office for Women has created a foundational eLearning course that has been developed to increase gender awareness capability across the Australian Public Service (APS).
• The University of NSW has released the Australian Government Women in STEM Ambassador’s 2023 Annual Review
• A research publication discusses geographies of regulatory disparity underlying Australia’s energy transition.
• Close the Gap Research issued ‘Low expectations: Are universities failing Aboriginal academics?’
• The Asian Studies Association of Australia released a conversation with Emeritus Professor Kathryn Robinson on Connecting and Learning across Disciplines.

Global politics

• The Parliamentary Library issued ‘Outcomes of the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit’.
• Event: The Lowy Institute will host a conversation with Admiral John Aquilino on the increasing dangers in the Indo-Pacific, the bilateral relationship between Australia and the United States, and the importance of the AUKUS security partnership. Lowy Institute Executive Director Dr Michael Fullilove will host [Tues 09 April, 6-7pm AEST].

INDONESIA

Research and Technology

• The Head of the Artificial Intelligence and Cyber ​​Security Research Centre at BRIN stated that they are studying the use of artificial intelligence in the defence system in the IKN region.
• The Government Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP) launched Electronic Catalogue Version 6 in collaboration with PT Telkom Indonesia Tbk through its GovTech Procurement unit to serve digital transformation for the procurement of goods and services in the government.

Research and Innovation

• BRIN signed a research cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Halal Industry (FIH) at Nahdlatul Ulama University (UNU) Yogyakarta to innovate in the halal industry, such as developing halal products, creating halal product detection tools, and more.
• BRIN’s Hydrodynamics Technology Research Centre developed the 40-feet ISO LNG tank frame. The design follows several related regulations, including transport facilities, operational areas, and manufacturer specifications.
• BRIN is finding ways to increase the productivity of shallot cultivation on plateaus by launching PROLIGA (Double Production Cultivation Technology), a new research project. The research project aims to increase agricultural yields, reduce production costs, reduce the risk of crop failure due to ecological causes and environmental stress, and support sustainable agriculture.

Environment and Climate Change (ECC)

• Head of BRIN’s Limnology and Water Resources Research Centre Hidayat said BRIN has a role to find and provide answers to conditions that threaten lake sustainability using scientific data.
• BRIN underscores the necessity of improving understanding regarding extreme rainfall in Indonesia due to its significant implications for future climate conditions.
• BRIN has successfully used the phytoremediation method as an innovative solution to handle radioactive Sesium-137 or Cs-137 pollution.
• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology revealed that environmental change is one of their concerns. Therefore, they have implemented a programme to anticipate climate change by procuring and developing facilities and infrastructure for vocational higher education (API sarpras PTV). (Jawa pos, Page 6, 20 March 2024)
• BRIN revealed a landslide hazard lurking in the North Bandung area as the rain and the Lembang fault causes the hilly spots in northern Bandung to be vulnerable to landslides.
• Climate researcher at BRIN, Erma Yulihastin, stated that global warming is causing El Nino to occur more frequently than La Nina.

Research and Funding

• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP) has opened a non-degree scholarship programme in English literature for elementary school teachers in Indonesia.

Research and Women

• The Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection emphasises the importance of pentahelix synergy in addressing cases of violence against women and advancing women’s rights. Pentahelix cooperation highlights how the government, the business world, universities, media, and community participation are crucial pillars in advancing women’s issues in the contemporary era.
• Research and Disability
• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology stated that there are 40,164 formal schools in Indonesia with students with disabilities as of December 2023. The Ministry has launched the Inclusive Education-Tiered Education programme in the Basic Inclusive Education Module to enhance teachers’ competencies to achieve inclusive and equitable education services.

Updates supported by Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)