Kick-Off of the Bestari Saintek Program and Launch of the 2026 Semesta APBN Program

Jakarta, 29 April 2026 — The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology officially held the Kick-Off of the Bestari Saintek Program and the Launch of the 2026 Semesta APBN Program at the Grha Diktisaintek Auditorium, 2nd Floor, Building D, held on 28-29 april 2026. This strategic event marks the initial milestone in strengthening the national research ecosystem oriented toward real impact and sustainability.

The event was officially opened by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Brian, who emphasized the importance of transforming research outputs from mere scientific publications and prototypes into products that possess economic value and broad benefits for society.

“Moving forward, the 122 best proposals in this Bestari Saintek Program must not stop at publications and prototypes; they must be capable of becoming products that can be commercialized and duplicated across various regions. This is the new direction of our research impactful, sustainable, and providing added value to the nation,” stated Prof. Brian.

This year’s Bestari Saintek Program recorded a highly competitive selection process, with only the top 4.9% of proposals from across Indonesia successfully passing. This demonstrates the high quality and competitiveness of the researchers involved in the program.

The event took place over two days with a comprehensively designed agenda to ensure the readiness of the research teams, both in terms of substance and governance. The first day focused on a coaching clinic regarding administrative and financial compliance, which is a crucial aspect of grant program implementation. Additionally, the finalization of cooperation contracts was conducted as a form of formal commitment between the government and the grant recipients.

Meanwhile, the active participation of various universities and research institutions colored the event. One of the contributing teams was led by Dr. Iis Kurnia Nurhayati, represented on this occasion by Dr. A. Hasan Al Husain. The presence of this team reflects the collaborative spirit and commitment of academics in driving innovative, research-based solutions that are both applicable and inclusive.

Dr. Hasan expressed that this program serves as an important momentum for researchers to think not only academically but also strategically in creating solutions relevant to the needs of industry and society.

“This program provides space for researchers to level up from merely producing knowledge to becoming creators of real solutions that can be used, developed, and even replicated widely,” he remarked.

The launch of the 2026 Semesta APBN Program is also an integral part of strengthening the synergy between state funding policies and the direction of national research development. This program is expected to accelerate the downstreaming of innovation, expand collaborative networks, and increase research contributions to national economic growth.

With a spirit of transformation and collaboration, this event is not merely an opening ceremony but a solid foundation to drive Indonesian research toward a level that is more impactful, adaptive, and globally competitive.