Jakarta, Sept. 24 -- Human capital and technological innovation are critical pillars driving economic progress, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Head Arif Satria said Thursday, urging Indonesia to accelerate research efforts.

Speaking at the closing of the 2026 Indonesia Research and Innovation Fair (IRIFair), Satria referenced Nobel laureate Paul Romer's endogenous growth theory to highlight how future national wealth depends heavily on innovation rather than raw natural resources.

"Human capital and mastery of technology and innovation are the two key factors that will serve as pillars of economic progress," Satria said, noting that global economic trends have shifted significantly over the past three decades away from r...