Development Economics Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), organized a Research-Based Policy Planning Workshop on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at UNS Inn. This agenda is part of a collaborative initiative between the Development Economics Study Program FEB UNS, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA) of Central Java Province. The workshop aims to strengthen the role of academic research in supporting evidence-based policy for regional development. Through this initiative, universities are expected to serve as strategic partners for local governments in developing adaptive, innovative, and impactful public policies.

The workshop opened with remarks from Johadi, S.E., M.Sc., Head of Cooperation at FEB UNS, who emphasized the importance of enhancing fiscal planning and public policy capacity amid regional financial constraints. “Hopefully, this workshop will bring new perspectives amid fiscal pressures. Our budget base will decline by about 19.9 percent in 2026 compared to 2025, which will have a major impact since intergovernmental transfers account for around 83 percent of our budget. Given this situation, research conducted by local governments in collaboration with BRIDA and Bappeda must propose policy recommendations that are effective, well-targeted, and outcome-oriented,” said Johadi.

He further highlights the importance of embedding sustainability and accountability principles in regional public investment. “Public investment must generate good returns or deliver a high public service obligation. If neither is achieved, it means public funds have not been utilized optimally. Therefore, research and innovation at universities must contribute to policies that are sustainable and inclusive,” he added.

Johadi also reaffirmed FEB UNS’s commitment to building cross-sector collaboration not only with government institutions but also with business actors and the wider community. “At FEB UNS, we have units that specifically focus on strengthening collaborative networks. The expectation is that universities can serve as centers for research development that represent the interests of policymakers and support MSMEs to become more productive,” he explained.

The workshop consisted of two main sessions. The first session discussed Development Planning and Policy Papers, presented by speakers from the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), highlighting the role of academics in developing research-based policy briefs. The second session featured speakers from BRIDA Central Java Province, who discussed the importance of regional research and innovation as a foundation for long-term development planning.

The event was attended by approximately 25 participants, including lecturers, researchers, and representatives from Bappeda and BRIDA across the Solo Raya region, including Surakarta, Sukoharjo, Karanganyar, Boyolali, Sragen, and Wonogiri. Discussions were active and productive, addressing various technical issues in data-based planning, budgeting, and policy evaluation.

Through this activity, FEB UNS reinforces its role as a strategic partner for regional governments in advancing research-based policy development. The synergy between universities and planning institutions is expected to strengthen local governments’ technocratic capacity to formulate policies that are effective, efficient, and sustainable in the long term.

The Research-Based Policy Planning Workshop also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through institutional capacity building, collaborative research, and inclusive, sustainable regional development.