Republic of Indonesia (RI) - United Kingdom (UK) Signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Research and Innovation Partnership
RI - UK agreement on research and innovation partnership marked by the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Research and Innovation Partnership at the Indonesian State Palace on Monday, 27 July 2015.
The signing were executed by HE Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir on behalf of the Government of Indonesia, and HE Minister of State for Trade and Investment Lord Maude of Horsham on behalf of The United Kingdom. The signing were witnessed by HE President of Republic Indonesia Ir. Joko Widodo and HE Prime Minister David Cameron along with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, HE Ambassador Moazzam Malik, HE Ambassador Hamzah Thayeb, Director General for America and Europe for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Dian Triansyah Dhani and Secretary General for Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education Mr. Ainun Na’im.
Through the signing of the MoU, RI and UK agree to execute research and innovation partnership, including research based on science excellence, in areas that make maximum contribution to Indonesian economic development. Some program fund will prioritize the areas of energy and climate change, the maritime, urbanisation (to be interpreted broadly to cover sustainable living, transportation, infrastructure and urban design), food security and capacity building of the science, technology and innovation. The research will be funded by the Government of Indonesia and by the Government of United Kingdom through the Newton Fund. In the field of education, both Countries agreed to implement cooperation on joint research and publication, which was agreed during the working visit of HE Minister David Willets MP to Indonesia, during the 2nd Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Education in March 2014.
On this occasion, HE Mohamad Nasir also representing the LAPAN Chairman, Thomas Djamaluddin, to sign the MoU between the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) and LAPAN regarding the collaboration in Civil Space Activities. Indonesia became the first Southeast Asia’s country visited by HE Prime Minister David Cameron since winning the election last May. This visit meant by the Prime Minister to enhance the cooperation between the United Kingdom and South Asia Countries.
Hopefully in the future, the bilateral cooperation in the field of science, technology, higher education and innovation of both countries could be more promoted, so the designated programe on the MoUs could be implemented significantly and could benefit both Indonesian and Brittish societies, as well as the world society. (WN/BKKP)
