BRIN urges Indonesia to pair workforce development with research
Agency head Arif Satria said women’s skills and entrepreneurship should be included in efforts to support innovation-led economic growth.
Indonesia needs to develop its workforce alongside research and technology to support economic growth, Arif Satria, head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said at a Jakarta conference.
Addressing the International Conference of Muslim Women (ICMW) 2026, Satria said people’s skills and the ability to use technology were becoming more important to economic development than access to natural resources.
He said the contribution from human capital had increased to 44 per cent from 39 per cent. Natural resources accounted for 31 per cent, down from 44 per cent, while technology’s share reached 24 per cent from 16 per cent.
Satria identified competence, entrepreneurship and technical expertise as priorities for workforce development. He said building women’s capabilities and supporting their entrepreneurship needed to be included in that strategy.
BRIN is extending its research and development support to MSMEs, industry and private-sector businesses, he said. The agency is also encouraging collaboration on technology, aiming to raise productivity and competitiveness.
