Jakarta, July 31 -- Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, has highlighted the importance of boosting fundamental research to ensure the Indonesian nation keeps pace with rapid global technological advancements.

"Mastery of science and technology, especially amid rapid development of technology, cannot be achieved without strengthening basic research," he said during a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.

Yuliarto added that mastery of science and technology starts with a strong foundation, and without such a foundation, the Indonesian nation will eventually become just a consumer of foreign technologies.

"We must ensure that our nation does not fail to master new technologies when new technologies eme...