MAKASSAR – Hasanuddin University (Unhas) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) are strengthening their synergy in developing Research Collaboration Centers (PKR) as a strategic platform to accelerate the emergence of outstanding talent in research and innovation. These efforts were discussed at a focus group discussion (FGD) titled “Strengthening the Role of Research Collaboration Centers at Hasanuddin University as a Platform for the National Talent Management Program in Research and Innovation,” held at the Unhas LPPM Hall on Tuesday (9 June).
The event is part of implementing the National Talent Management grand design, which positions universities as one of the main sources of research talent. Through its collaboration with BRIN, Unhas is expected to optimize the role of PKR as collaborative spaces that bring together researchers across institutions to promote knowledge transfer, technology development, and higher-quality research based on multidisciplinary cooperation.
The Head of the Unhas Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), Prof. dr. Muh. Nasrum Massi, Ph.D., Sp.MK(K), affirmed Unhas’s commitment to continue strengthening its collaborative research ecosystem through the sustained development of PKR.
According to Prof. Nasrum, Unhas has established a number of Thematic Research Groups (TRG), which now total around 300. These research groups are expected to grow into centers of excellence in science and technology capable of producing impactful innovation.
“We hope the research collaboration centers that have been built will continue to grow and produce a range of useful outputs. This is not a short-term program, but a sustained effort that we hope will strengthen research capacity, particularly in eastern Indonesia,” Prof. Nasrum explained.
Prof. Nasrum also put forward the idea of developing BRIONIC (BRIN-Unhas Innovation Center) as a collaborative hub linking Unhas’s research capacity with BRIN’s resources and networks. The initiative is expected to speed up the downstreaming of research results while strengthening eastern Indonesia’s position on the national research map.
Meanwhile, BRIN Deputy for Research and Innovation Facilitation Prof. Dr. Eng. Agus Haryono expressed appreciation for Unhas’s initiative in developing a collaborative research ecosystem integrated with the national talent management program.
The PKR established at Unhas have great potential to become platforms for research talent development that can connect human resources, infrastructure, and research funding programs available nationally.
“We want the research collaboration centers at Unhas to be optimized to support the national talent management program. We also greatly appreciate the BRIONIC idea, which has great potential to be realized together,” said Prof. Agus.
The discussion continued with a talk show titled “Optimizing the Role of Hasanuddin University’s Research Collaboration Centers,” featuring R. Arthur Ario Lelono, Ph.D. (BRIN Director of Research and Innovation Funding), Dr. Ajeng Arum Sari, S.T. (BRIN Director of Talent Management), and Prof. Ir. Suharman Hamzah, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. (Eng), HSE. (Secretary of Unhas LPPM).
In the presentation, Prof. Suharman explained that Unhas has developed a number of research collaboration centers focusing on strategic fields, including:
- Karst Microbes PKR,
- Sulawesi Archaeology PKR,
- Sustainable Crab PKR,
- Genetically Engineered Maize Variety Development (PBG) PKR
- Shrimp Technology PKR
These diverse themes show how research collaboration centers are developed based on the resource strengths and development challenges facing Indonesia, particularly its eastern region. This approach allows research not only to generate new knowledge but also to foster science-based solutions relevant to the needs of society.
One key point raised in the discussion was the importance of building a strong research ecosystem through four main pillars: science and technology human resources, research and innovation infrastructure, research funding, and regulatory support. These four elements are seen as interrelated in determining the success of developing research collaboration centers and the national talent management program.
By strengthening the synergy between BRIN and universities, research collaboration centers are expected to become not only venues for academic cooperation but also spaces where a new generation of Indonesian researchers can grow.
With support from infrastructure, collaborative networks, and increasingly open funding schemes, these research centers have the potential to become meeting points between the advancement of science, technological innovation, and national development needs.
For Unhas, strengthening PKR is part of an effort to broaden the university’s contribution to Indonesia’s research ecosystem. For BRIN, the collaboration is a strategic step to ensure that investment in research talent can be directly connected to centers of excellence growing in various regions, including eastern Indonesia. (*/dhs)
Editor : Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.