As a form of scientific contribution and support to the Indonesian government which becomes the President of the G20 in the entire series of events for the 2022 G20 Summit, Universitas Indonesia (UI) submitted a book “Collection of Universitas Indonesia’s Policy Brief for the 2022 G20 Indonesia Presidency”. This submission was conducted by Rector of UI Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D. to Deputy for Coordination of International Economic Cooperation/CoSherpa G20 Indonesia Dr. Edi Prio Pambudi, at the opening of the 3rd Meeting of the G20 Sherpas in Yogyakarta, last Monday (26/09).
The policy recommendations in this collection of policy briefs are the result of UI International Conference on G20 “Boosting Indonesia’s Role in Strategic Issues for G20 Presidency” which was held on 15-16 June 2022 in Jakarta. In the book, there are 40 policy briefs covering the three main themes of the G20 Presidency, which are 11 policy briefs related to Global Health Architecture, 15 policy briefs for Digital Transformation, 12 policy briefs related to Energy Transition, and 2 policy briefs for cross-cutting issues.
According to Prof. Ari, there has been a tremendous difference in the concept of higher education in the last five years. Previously, academics were only producers of articles in scientific journals, but there has been a shift in 2015, namely higher education institutions are required to see the impact of research, whether there is policy action, as well as engagement with industry partners, the government, and the community.
“This G20 event provides an opportunity, and it is a window for UI to prove that the concept of university engagement with its environment (which is called the triple helix) can work. The current policy brief is an example of an idea that not only fills scientific articles, but also becomes a tool for policy making or input,” said Prof. Ari. Dr. Edi welcomed and received recommendations from UI regarding the policy brief for the 2022 G20 Indonesia Presidency. According to Dr. Edi, this year’s G20 is the most special because it has complete challenges, starting from the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change issues, and even adding to the crisis between Ukraine and Russia.
“So, we received this collection of policy briefs as part of the thoughts of scientists and academics so that they can be used to enrich what was discussed at the G20 Presidency,” said Dr. Eddie. In addition to the policy briefs, UI also handed over Merah Putih Electric Bus to help mobilize delegates during the 3rd G20 Sherpa Meeting.
The submission was officially carried out by Prof. Ari to Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso. The UI’s Merah Putih Electric Bus is a bus whose platform chassis, propulsion system, brake system, control system, inverter, dashboard, and air conditioning system are designed independently by UI experts. Prof. Ari said that this electric bus is proof that academics not only generate ideas, but can also innovate in the form of products whose benefits are felt directly by the community.
“Usually, the concept of an electric bus is only a scientific article, but now it can be an electric bus product that can be utilized directly. This is another new science because there will be links between academics and industry. We hope that the Merah Putih Electric Bus can be used to support the holding of Indonesia’s Presidency at G20 2022 and can be a scientific contribution to society,” said Prof. Ari. With this innovation, Susiwijono sees the presence of the Merah Putih Electric Bus as something extraordinary because at the time when the world was experiencing difficulties in supplying conductors, so all electrical aspects were hampered, UI sent electric buses for the G20 event.
He hopes that in the future this bus can be developed in large quantities so that the benefits can be felt by the wider community. “With the highest Domestic Component Level (TKDN) in Indonesia for the large bus class, this electric bus has very good quality. Of course, the Coordinating Minister for the Economic Affairs and the Minister of Industry will support that what has been produced on the campus must be pushed up to the industrial level,” said Susiwijono.
Susiwijono also hopes that support and cooperation from the UI academic community can help provide perspectives at the G20 Sherpa meeting which will later produce a Leaders Declaration draft to be used at G20 Bali Summit meeting in November 2022. The research-based policy briefs produced by UI will be used as the main reference in the program or policies at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, especially those related to Indonesia’s G20 Presidency.
Author: Sasa
