VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Research and Technology and head of the National Research and Innovation Agency, Bambang PS Brodjonegoro, speaking at an online seminar at the 12th International Symposium of the Global Indonesian Students Association, from Jakarta on Tuesday (August 18, 2020). (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Research and Technology/ac)

Minister of Research and Technology and head of the National Research and Innovation Agency, Bambang PS Brodjonegoro, has called for using artificial intelligence to build innovative excellence in Indonesia in the future.

"We have to make innovation a spirit, a passion that emerges among our people. Only once we become innovative people, can we head towards (becoming) a developed country," said Brodjonegoro in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.

The minister said that artificial intelligence can benefit the Indonesian people, lead to economic efficiency, and serve as the foundation for Indonesia's innovation excellence in the future.

He made the statement at an online seminar organized by the Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Association on Wednesday. It was themed 'Strengthening Research & Innovation with AI to Foster Economic Recovery’.

The Ministry and the Agency appreciate every initiative taken to infuse artificial intelligence in every sector of the Indonesian economy, the minister said.

Artificial intelligence can be one of the tools for Indonesia to not only become a market, but also a player in the 4.0 industrial revolution, he remarked.

"Indonesia should not only be a part of the market in the 4.0 industrial revolution, but it should also have the capability to become a player, (through focusing on certain areas) one of which is the artificial intelligence sector," he said.

Brodjonegoro said that with science and technology, as well as innovation, Indonesia would be able to create added value from the natural resources it owns.

"Our economy should not only be dependent on the extraction of natural resources, (in terms of) both agriculture and mining products; but with the touch of technology and science, we have to create added value from the natural resources we possess," he explained.

He also said that innovation is the engine for the advancement of a nation, and it can only be made possible through the efforts of innovative people. (ANTARA)