The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) on Friday announced that it will host the Research and Innovation Informal Gathering (RIIG), one of the 2022 G20 side events.

“The RIIG will become an informal event for the G20 members’ ministers who are in charge of research and innovation activities,” Head of BRIN Laksana Tri Handoko told ANTARA.

The informal gathering has been initiated since Italy’s 2021 G20 Presidency, which aimed to make RIIG a permanent working group at the international forum, he informed.

As Indonesia’s representative at RIIG, BRIN will continue promoting the initiative during Indonesia’s Presidency, he said.

The agency is planning to conduct a series of meetings, consisting of four technical-level meetings and a ministerial meeting, which will start at the end of February 2022 until August 2022, Handoko disclosed.

Two main topics will be discussed at the 2022 G20 RIIG, he said. One, increasing and strengthening resource sharing-based research collaboration between G20 members, he added.

Two, regulating the utilization of biodiversity for research purposes to ensure equitable utilization among G20 members, both for those rich in biodiversity and those researching the subject, he said.

In addition, the initiative will promote sustainable and inclusive green and blue economic innovation, he added.

BRIN has started preparations for the G20 RIIG meetings, he said.

The ministerial meeting is scheduled to be conducted at the Cibinong Science Center, Bogor District, West Java province, he added.

Indonesia’s 2022 G20 Presidency, themed “Recover Together, Recover Stronger,” is focusing on three strategic issues — inclusive healthcare, digital-based economic transformation, and sustainable energy transition.

A total of 127 meetings are scheduled to take place before the G20 Summit in October 2022.

Source: Antara News