The Resulted Innovations of IPB should be Brought Closer to Entrepreneurs

Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) in cooperation with the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) held a National Seminar on "Implementation of MPR Decree No. XVI/MPR/1998 on Economic Politics in the Framework of Economic Democracy”. In the event held at IPB International Convention Center (IICC) (3/10), Professor. Dr. Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto, M.Sc said that in the present era the economy should be driven by the resulted innovation of the nation.

"The current economy is still in the form of selling products extracted from nature. Looking ahead, it should lead to the processing and use of economic system driven by the resulted innovations of the nation. Over the past 5 years, of 510 most prospective Indonesian innovations based on the Ministry of Research and Technology, as many as 179 innovations have come from IPB. What is now to be done is the applications in the society. This needs government incentives so that employers do not hesitate to look at the innovations produced by higher education. Usually they have the fear of loss going into a new realm," said Rector in his speech.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of MPR  RI, Melanie Leimena Suharli said that the easiest way to recognize the economic growth is by looking at the increasing traffic jams in the highway crowded by private vehicles and the length of waiting period for the pilgrimage. "In Jakarta, if we enroll for the pilgrimage, now we have to wait until 5 years to go; in Aceh, it is even up to 7 years. Moreover, look at the traffic jam on the roads in Jakarta; it’s because of the increasing number of private vehicles. This suggests that there is an increased economic growth with more lower classes becoming middle classes," said Melanie when opening the seminar.

According to her, the rise of the middle class is an opportunity that must be considered for economic progress and welfare. "In 2025, the estimated total world population will reach 9 billion. As the direction of the President in the Chamber of Commerce meeting some time ago, employers should strengthen their businesses in the field of food and energy. In both areas, IPB as a producer of innovations should be able to contribute," she said.

In addition, Melanie also directed that Commission 11 which happened to be represented by Dr. Arif Budimanta (as a resource person) can influence the economic actors not to be afraid of adopting the resulted innovations so that there is a partnership between the academicians and industry. "So the results of the research could be taken over by industry and marketed," she said. (Mtd)