31-7-2023 (JAKARTA) The Indonesian government, represented by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is advocating for the establishment of a research hub aimed at fostering collaboration among researchers from the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Ahmad Najib Burhani, the Head of BRIN’s Social and Humanity Sciences Organization, believes that such a research hub could not only strengthen friendly ties among Southeast Asian countries but also unleash the full potential of the region’s mobility.
“We (ASEAN) have the opportunity to ‘decenter’ and ‘decolonize’ the Southeast Asian region and emerge as a new global powerhouse in science,” Burhani stated, as mentioned in a press release from Jakarta on Saturday.
By establishing its own research hub, ASEAN can position itself as a formidable competitor to established science leaders like Europe, America, and Australia.
Moreover, Burhani envisions that this research hub would elevate ASEAN to become a center for industry and science, enhancing its ability to contribute significantly to the world of science.
He highlighted the geographical proximity among ASEAN countries as a valuable asset, capable of propelling the Southeast Asian region to become a global force in various fields, including science and economy.
Furthermore, the ASEAN bloc boasts a substantial population of approximately 670 million people, which serves as a strategic advantage.
Indonesia, currently holding the chairmanship of ASEAN, recognizes the rich biodiversity potential within the region. BRIN believes that by collectively developing and conducting research on this potential, ASEAN can optimize its resources effectively.
Among the potential cooperation schemes suggested by Burhani for ASEAN researchers are collaborative studies on biodiversity, climate change, and environmental issues.
Earlier in May 2023, Laksana Tri Handoko, the head of BRIN, also expressed the agency’s resolve to become a collaborative research hub for ASEAN through its researcher mobility program. Handoko emphasized that BRIN aims to facilitate collaboration among ASEAN countries in areas like biodiversity, nuclear research, and space exploration.
