TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia and the United Kingdom signed cooperation agreement on ten collaborative research projects covering various topics related to social and economic developments in Indonesia.

The agreement was signed by Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Mohammad Nasir and British Ambassador to Indonesia, Asean and Timor Leste Moazzam Malik during the celebration of the first anniversary of “Newton UK-Indonesia Science and Technology Find” in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 5, 2017.

According to Nasir, researchers and innovators play a key role in optimizing potentials of resources in Indonesia. Nasir added that research results would not be called as innovations until they provide benefits to the society.

“In order to achieve the goal, international collaborations, such as that with the UK, are necessary, so that we don’t have to start from scratch. Together, we can find a better way to improve the global society,” Nasir said.

Mr. Malik said that the UK and Indonesia have agreed to allocate a joint commitment fund amounting to GBP 8 million (US$132.8 billion) for the collaborative researches in the fields of science, technology and innovation.

Muhammad Dimyati, director general of research and development at the Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister, said that the Indonesian government would continue to seek any form of international cooperation.

“Today, we will hear directly from selected researchers about the importance of their researches for the society, and with international cooperation in research and innovation, we will gain better results,” Dimyati said.

ANTARA