Jakarta, INTI - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) is developing and strengthening Indonesia’s research ecosystem to nurture outstanding research talent capable of earning international recognition and, in the long term, producing Nobel laureates.
Director of Research and Development Talent Development at Kemdiktisaintek, Heri Kuswanto, said Indonesia still faces a significant challenge in increasing the number of scientists receiving global recognition.
Data from 2024 shows that only around 57 people out of Indonesia’s population of approximately 283.5 million were ranked among the world’s top two percent of researchers.
“In 2024, only around 57 of Indonesia’s 283.5 million people were included among the top two percent of researchers and leading scientists. This figure is significantly lower than that of several neighboring countries,” Heri said at the launch of the Young Researcher Award (YRA) 2026 in Jakarta on Thursday.
According to Heri, the figures highlight the need for structured development and support, particularly for Indonesia’s young research talent, rather than leaving them to develop without guidance.
Building Research Talent Step by Step
Kemdiktisaintek is developing a phased research talent development system aligned with Presidential Regulation No. 108 of 2024 on the National Talent Management Grand Design (MTN).
The development process begins with pre-nurturing and talent cultivation, followed by the development of promising researchers and the strengthening of high-performing talent.
“We have pre-nurturing, cultivation, development of promising talent, and strengthening of outstanding talent. We are working to address each of these milestones,” Heri said.
Kemdiktisaintek aims to implement all of these stages to establish a sustainable development pathway for Indonesia’s research talent.
As part of efforts to create a supportive research ecosystem, the ministry is also prioritizing support for scientific publications, which play a significant role in international rankings.
The government is also focusing on providing research incentives to support and motivate researchers.
Heri said the Young Researcher Award (YRA) 2026, organized by the Indonesian Researchers Association (PPI), represents one concrete form of support and recognition for young researchers.
The award is expected to encourage young researchers to continuously improve the quality and impact of their work.
Driving Research Toward Commercialization
Beyond improving research quality and publication performance, Kemdiktisaintek is facilitating the development of Science and Technology Parks (STPs) to accelerate the utilization of research outcomes.
The initiative aims to ensure that research does not remain confined to academic documents or publications but progresses toward practical application and commercialization.
Through research commercialization, the government expects scientific discoveries and innovations to deliver tangible benefits to society.
Kemdiktisaintek emphasizes that research activities and higher education programs should ultimately generate measurable and meaningful impact.
“Whatever we do, whether in research or higher education, must ultimately create an impact,” Heri Kuswanto said.
Conclusion
Indonesia is strengthening its research talent ecosystem through structured development, research incentives, scientific publications, and commercialization. These efforts aim to build globally recognized researchers and create greater societal impact from Indonesian research.
Read more: Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Says Future Designers Must Master AI, Business, and Leadership