Kalla Urges Researchers to Innovate Despite Lack of Fund
1 February 2016 15:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Serpong - Vice President Jusuf Kalla urged researchers not to make lack of funds as an excuse for lack of innovations. Kalla encouraged researchers to continue making breakthroughs despite the lack of funding from the government.
"The solution is not to complain, but to make breakthroughs, collective complaints would [weaken our resolve]," said Kalla during the opening of the national meeting of the Research, Technology, and Higher Education Ministry at Graha Widya Bhakti, Serpong on Monday, February 1, 2016.
Kalla admitted that technology development in Indonesia is still falling behind other countries. Unstable economic condition, according to Kalla, has caused difficulties for the government to fund research projects. Nevertheless, the Vice President remains optimistic that technological innovations can still be achieved if researchers have strong beliefs, determination and willingness to make sacrifices.
"Channel all of your energy, don't talk about robots and drones [yet], talk about corns, rice, soybeans and fruits [instead], so we can stop imports from China. That should be the priority," Kalla said.
Kalla said that Indonesia will have higher 'added-value' by improving technology and education, not by conducting seminars and issuing regulations.
TIKA PRIMANDARI