AUSTRALIA

Climate change

• Treasurer Chalmers invited comment on draft climate-related financial disclosure legislation.
• The IEA issued ‘Renewables 2023’, suggesting that a massive expansion of renewable power opens the door to achieving global tripling of the goal set at COP28
• The Australia Institute issued ‘Plastic waste in Australia and the recycling greenwash’.

Digital transformation

• Minister Husic issued an interim response to the consultation on AI regulation, which was well received by the sector.
• The Lowy Institute issued ‘AI’s Oppenheimer moment: Establishing regulations’.
• The Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (part of the Department of Defence) issued ‘AI technology rises to the challenge’.

GEDSI

• The Medical Journal of Australia issued ‘Disruption of gender-affirming health care, and COVID-19 illness, testing, and vaccination among trans Australians during the pandemic: a cross-sectional survey’.
• Safe Work issued a code of practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment.
• The AGORA Parliamentary Development Community of Practice shared details for a ‘Gender-Responsive Budgeting & the Role of Parliaments’ Webinar, for 24 January 2024, 14:00-17:00 CET online on Zoom. Option to register.

Research sector

• The Go8 issued a submission on the 2024-25 permanent migration program.
• Ministers Clare and O’Connor invited submissions on a Skills Passport scheme.
• The Lowy issued a podcast: ‘Pacific Change Makers: NZ High Commissioner Dame Annette King on the Pacific, geopolitical competition, and her time serving in Australia’.

INDONESIA

Research and Technology

• Khofifah Indar Parawansa has expressed optimism and support for the progress of research and technology initiatives at the university level in East Java. 

Research and Innovation

• Asep Bayu an Associate Researcher at the Vaccine and Drug Research Centre of BRIN is conducting research on Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) with the goal of transforming it into a potent form of supervitamin E for cancer immunotherapy development. 
• BRIN is researching an organic substance derived from palm oil, intending to utilise it for both colouring and reinforcing rubber-based products. 

• The Center for Research on Drug Raw Materials and Traditional Medicines at BRIN is set to develop active ingredients for anti-acne products using extracts from mangosteen peel and centella asiatica 
• Stem Cell Research and Development Center of Universitas Airlangga has implemented stem cell therapy for stroke patients with the aim of facilitating the recovery of their nervous systems. 
• Researchers from the Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) have developed an AI-based mathematical model that can transform MRI image results from two-dimensional to three-dimensional images. 
• The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has continued to optimise the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar – Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program in vocational education units within the scope of the ministry to enhance the capacity of human resources. 

Environment and Climate Change (ECC)

• BRIN encourages utilisation of research results and research resources in the form of research expertise and BRIN research facilities by communities, Ministries/Institutions, foundations and MSME 
• PT PLN, through its sub-holding PLN Indonesia Power, is set to operate the first hydrogen refueling station (HRS) in Indonesia to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector 
• BRIN reveals active fault lines surrounding Sumedang Regency, West Java. These active fault lines may eventually result in a 6.5 magnitude quake  

Research and Funding

• BRIN and Bappenas will coordinate a research support program to meet the needs of universities as the drivers of research in Indonesia. 
• Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim to increase the research budget for universities 
• President Joko Widodo highlighted the mismatch in the ratio of the population with master’s and doctoral education and the population of productive age and underlined the need to increase the education budget. 
• Hasanuddin University signed an MoU for the Partnership for Australia-Indonesia Research (PAIR) program on January 5, 2024. The total funding for this collaborative research program is IDR 120 billion over four years. 
• Human Development and Culture Coordination Minister Muhadjir Effendy announced the government’s plans to temporarily halt LPDP scholarships and reallocate a portion of the budget to other education-related areas, such as research and vocational programs. 

Research and Disabilities

• During a discussion facilitated by PROSPERA, Mochamad Felani Budi Hartanto from BRIN stated that concessions for persons with disabilities must be given for education, health, transportation and utility sector. 

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Updates supported by Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)