The Delegation of the Republic of Indonesia and the Netherlands committed to boost science and technology cooperation at the 10th anniversary of the Scientific and Technology Cooperation, in Amsterdam, on June 19, 2012. To mark the anniversary, Indonesia and the Netherlands launched the 3rd phase of the Scientific Programmes Indonesia-Nederland (SPIN) 2012-2016.
The State Minister for Research and Technology, Prof. Dr. Gusti Muhammad Hatta and the Deputy Minister for Science and Technology ad –interim, accompanied by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Retno L.P. Marsudi were presence during the 10th Anniversary of the Scientific Programmes Indonesia-Nederland (SPIN) held at “Het Trippenhous”, Amsterdam on June 19, 2012.
During his visit in the Netherlands, the State Minister for Research and Technology also pay a visit to the Minister for Education, Cultural and Scientific Affairs, Mr. Halbe Zilkstra in the Hague. At the meeting, both ministers have committed to continue the existing bilateral cooperation on science and technology in the future based on a strategic partnership.
As for Indonesia, this bilateral science and technology cooperation is projected to support the “Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Growth”. The Scientific Programmes Indonesia-Nederland (SPIN) implementation conducted based on the Memorandum of Understanding concerning bilateral science and technology cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands, signed by both parties in 1992.
In 2002, both parties established Joint Working Committee for Scientific Research Cooperation, co-chaired by the State Ministry of Research and Technology and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science.
In the frame-work of the SPIN 3, following projects were agreed to be implemented: (i) The Indonesian banana: protecting a staple food from panama disease collapse and exploiting its genetic diversity for discovery research; (ii) hydrology-geomorphology links in the Kapuas river system; (iii) worm infection and diabetes mellitus, a multidisciplinary study on the island of Flores; (iv) highly pathogenic avian influenza virus; (v) novel strategies and tools for antimicrobial resistance surveillance; (vi) local and regional dimensions in Indonesia’s social and economic development: a governance approach: (vii) from clients to citizens: Emerging citizenship in democratizing Indonesia; (viii) Social and Economic effects of partnering for sustainable change in agricultural commodity chains; dan (ix) agriculture beyond food.
The State Minister for Research and Technology took the opportunity to share views with the Indonesian students and community on the current government’s vision and policy on the development of renewable energy.
The meeting was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, the Hague, on June 19, 2012. On June 20, 2012, the State Minister for Research and Technology visited Wageningen Research University to observe Agriculture Beyond Food and Plant Sciences facility, INDOSOL programme facility and Restaurant of the Future – research facility.
During the visit at Wageningen University, the State Minister had opportunity to listen the assessment and plan of each coordinators of the SPIN and ABF programmes in Indonesia, such as the University of Wageningen, the University of Leiden, the University of Utrecht, and the University of Groningen.