April 9, 2026
JAKARTA – Indonesia and the United Kingdom are ramping up research collaboration, with a shared focus on translating scientific findings into practical solutions, an approach that aligns with Indonesia’s push for research downstreaming.
Through the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), the British Council and the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are funding joint research across health, technology and environmental sustainability. The goal is not just to generate knowledge, but to ensure findings are applied in policies or public services to tackle real-world problems.
British Council Indonesia director Summer Xia said the initiative is designed to strengthen knowledge-sharing between scientists from both countries while deepening bilateral ties.
“We want to enable researchers to build networks so that when they return to Indonesia, they can work here, mentor their peers and translate research into real-world solutions,” Xia said.
This emphasis on applying research was in focus at the Indonesia-UK Research Translation Forum, held by the British Council and the Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry in Jakarta earlier this month. The event brought together researchers, policymakers and industry players to explore ways to improve pathways for health innovation and drug development.
One ISPF-backed study, which adopts a problem-based approach in line with Indonesia’s downstreaming agenda, examines how blood pressure drugs can be used to control cardiovascular disease.
The research is led by Delvac Oceandy and Efta Triastuti. Their team is investigating genetic factors that influence how patients respond to blood pressure medication, with the findings already being used to train local health workers in patient treatment.
“We ensure our program is fully aligned with the Indonesian government’s programs,” Xia said.
According to the 2025 British Council East Asia Research Landscape Report, joint Indonesia-UK studies between 2022 and 2024 have demonstrated strong global impact, achieving a field-weighted citation score of 3.38, well above the world average.
The figure suggests that such collaborations consistently produce high-impact research, underscoring the value of sustained scientific cooperation between the two countries.
Xia added that the UK-Indonesia partnership is designed to outlast initial funding cycles, beginning with small-scale collaborations that can expand into larger research programs.
President Prabowo Subianto has also called for stronger international collaboration to elevate Indonesia’s education and research standards, as well as its human capital development. Speaking at the UK-Indonesia Education Roundtable at Lancaster House in London on Jan. 20, he stressed that education remains the foundation of national progress.
“To be a successful nation, we must have the best education achievable,” he said.