HOLOPIS.COM, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has urged mining companies to adopt a long-term approach to downstream investment, warning that relying on short-lived technologies could leave costly industrial projects obsolete before they begin operating.
Speaking at the BRIN Goes to Industry 5 (BGTI 5) forum on downstream research and innovation in the mining sector in Jakarta on Tuesday, BRIN Chair Arif Satria said companies should look beyond today’s technologies when planning major investments.
“We must avoid industrialization and investment based on short-term technologies. Building a factory or industrial facility takes two to three years. By the time it is completed, the technology could already be outdated because newer solutions have emerged,” Arif said, Holopis.com, reported, Wednesday (29/7).
He noted that rapid technological advances require companies to consider how the industry is likely to evolve several years into the future rather than focusing solely on current needs.
BRIN Encourages Industry to Plan for Future Technologies
According to Arif, the pace of global technological change has accelerated significantly, making long-term planning essential for both research and downstream industrial development.
He encouraged businesses to begin forecasting technological trends through 2035 to 2040 so their investments remain competitive after production facilities become operational.
“We need to use artificial intelligence, expert knowledge, and global trend analysis so we can understand what technologies are likely to be used in the future,” he said.
Arif added that BRIN will continue supporting industry through technology forecasting, helping companies anticipate emerging innovations and prepare for future industrial transformation.
He said the initiative is intended to identify technologies and industrial tools that could become new standards in the coming decades.
Beyond strengthening research quality, BRIN believes the strategy will help improve the efficiency of Indonesia’s mineral downstream industry, enhance the global competitiveness of the country’s mining sector, and reduce the risk of investing in technologies that quickly become obsolete.
Arif emphasized that close collaboration between research institutions and industry will be critical to ensuring Indonesia’s mining downstream program keeps pace with technological innovation worldwide.
