The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is encouraging all Indonesian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to develop economically valuable products using BRIN's research facilities. This call was made by BRIN Head Laksana Tri Handoko during a visit by the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki, to the Soekarno Science and Technology Area (KST) in Cibinong, Bogor, West Java. Laksana expressed hope that the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs will utilize these facilities and invited business partners and entrepreneurs to collaborate, including foreign investors, not just for selling formulas but also for conducting research and development (R&D) and production. He explained that KST Soekarno is a global area where SMEs and startups can develop products, as it provides testing facilities. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between BRIN and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs to facilitate local production using the infrastructure and research results available at KST Soekarno.
Minister Teten Masduki highlighted the urgency of adopting research in SME product development. He pointed out that the digital economy and global changes demand innovation supported by strong research. "SMEs are growing in many countries with the digital economy, leading to a new economy. Currently, Indonesian SME products have strong competitiveness, and global platforms provide access to international markets," Teten said. Teten noted that many Indonesian SME products are not research-based, which hinders economic progress. He stated that the digital economy is stalled in advancing to a new economy because foreign entities dominate e-commerce. Therefore, Teten emphasized the need to develop and improve SME production facilities to gradually build modern production technology. He also mentioned plans to establish shared production houses to manage various domestic advantages such as agricultural, mining, farming, and marine products through collaboration with BRIN. "We aim to work with BRIN as a research institution to commercialize research results, as we have the ecosystem to create a new economy. I am optimistic that we can manage products made from local raw materials competitively," Teten Masduki concluded.
