National Competitive Research
The National Competitive Research Scheme is a government-funded research program, primarily organized by relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) through the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM). As the name suggests, this is a competitive program, meaning proposals submitted by researchers from various universities and research institutions undergo rigorous selection, and only the best are awarded funding. The program aims to enhance the quality and quantity of research in Indonesia, enabling it to compete nationally and internationally.
Main Objectives
The strategic objectives of the National Competitive Research Scheme include:
- Enhancing Research Quality and Quantity: Encouraging researchers to produce high-quality scientific works, publish in reputable journals, and generate relevant innovations.
- Promoting Innovation and Downstreaming: Developing products, processes, or services with economic value and broad applicability to improve national industrial competitiveness.
- Strengthening National Competitiveness: Contributing to the resolution of strategic national issues such as poverty alleviation, food security, climate change, and energy independence.
- Encouraging Collaboration and Networking: Promoting multidisciplinary research teams and collaboration among universities, industries, and government bodies.
- Building Research Capacity: Supporting researcher competency development, particularly for early-career lecturers and graduate students.
Schemes and Mechanisms
The National Competitive Research Scheme comprises multiple funding categories, generally classified as follows:
- Basic Research: Aimed at generating new scientific discoveries that enrich the body of knowledge.
- Applied Research: Focused on producing prototypes or technologies ready for practical trials.
- Development Research: Intended to refine existing discoveries or technologies for commercialization or large-scale implementation.
Research Funding Programs include:
- Basic Research Schemes
- Affirmative Beginner Lecturer Research
- Beginner Lecturer Research
- Postgraduate Research (Master’s Thesis, Doctoral Dissertation, PMDSU)
- Fundamental Research
- Inter-University Collaborative Research (PKPT)
- Applied Research Schemes
- Applied Research with Prototype Outputs
- Applied Research with Model Outputs
Community Service Programs include:
- Community-Based Empowerment (PBM)
- Community Partnership Empowerment (PKM)
- Beginner Community Empowerment (PMP)
- Student-Led Community Empowerment (PMM)
- Entrepreneurship-Based Empowerment (PBK)
- Student-Based Entrepreneurship (KBM)
- Partner Empowerment for Regional Superior Products (PM-UPUD)
- Region-Based Empowerment (PBW)
- Regional Empowerment (PW)
- Fostered Village Empowerment (PDB)
Selection Mechanism:
- Proposal Submission – through online systems such as BIMA or Simlitabmas.
- Administrative Screening – verification of documents and requirements.
- Substantive Review – evaluation by appointed expert reviewers focusing on novelty, methodology, expected outputs, and national relevance.
- Presentation and Interview – for shortlisted proposals.
- Announcement and Contract Signing – for approved and funded proposals.
Importance of the National Competitive Research Scheme
This scheme is vital for Indonesian academia as it serves as a primary source of research funding. It encourages productivity in publications, intellectual property acquisition (e.g., patents), and innovations applicable to society and industry. Indirectly, it also enhances the ranking and reputation of higher education institutions nationally and globally.