Stanley Widianto and Kate Lamb

JAKARTA, (Reuters) – Indonesia’s top scientists are expressing concern that a massive restructuring of the country’s most prestigious science and technology institutions could harm research.

A half-dozen science, technology, and research institutions will be included in the National Research and Innovation Agency, (BRIN). This integration is a government initiative that will help improve funding and access and increase competitiveness.

“It’s clear that Indonesian research has not reached the same level as ours,” LaksanaTri Handoko, head of BRIN told Reuters.

It is now the right time to take action to improve the situation.

Scientists and lawmakers warn against the move, claiming it could create red tape, result in the dismissal of many young scientists, and place oversight in the hands politicians.

Megawati Sukarnoputri will lead BRIN’s steering committee.

The Eijkman Institute is one of Indonesia’s top-ranking scientific research institutes and will now be incorporated into BRIN.

Gandung Pardiman, a lawmaker on the research-industry commission, told Laksana this week that “only a very small number of people are happy” as he was being quizzed in parliament.

Established in 1882, the institute was established by Christiaan Eijkman (a Dutch pathologist who won a Nobel Prize). It was reopened in 1990.

Prof Sangkot Marzuki was the director of the institute over a period of more than 20 years. He stated that “you cannot improve Indonesia’s scientific performance by one super body.”

“There’s no way to do it, as it would only increase bureaucracy. It also could destroy the work environment and science work culture, which have been built over the decades at various institutions.”

The changes are being made even though they have been in the works since last year. However, this is happening as the nation prepares to face a third wave coronavirus cases.

Prof. Amin Soebandrio who was in charge of the institute’s restructuring, stated that there are other concerns regarding the process, including the potential for delays in vaccine development and sequencing genomes, as well as the future of scientific autonomy.All scientists fear scientific freedom will be curtailed.