Jakarta, Sept. 20 -- Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto emphasized the importance of fostering research-based innovation in science and technology, beginning at the university level.

"Our country currently needs to boost research and industrial downstreaming in the fields of science and technology. Universities must become the driving force of this transformation," he said in the ministry's statement issued here on Saturday.

He noted that Indonesia is in a crucial demographic phase that offers an opportunity to accelerate national progress by increasing per capita income.

"We are still in the middle-income trap. Strong synergy in both basic and applied research is needed to reach the standards of a dev...