President Prabowo Subianto vows to trim BUMNs to 250, raise R&D budget to Rp4 trillion and set AI‑risk guidelines

During the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Convention of Science, Technology and Industry (KSTI) in Jakarta, President Prabowo Subianto announced a series of reforms.

He said the government will reduce the number of state‑owned enterprises from more than 1,000 to about 250 within two years, noting that over 200 have already been closed and that the overhaul aims to cut excessive overhead and improve efficiency.

Prabowo also directed a boost to the national research budget, raising it to Rp4 trillion and establishing a unified research roadmap that prioritises applied programmes such as waste‑to‑energy and a shift from LPG to compressed natural gas.

The president warned that rapid advances in artificial‑intelligence and nuclear technology carry serious risks and called on academics and scientists to study and regulate these fields, citing reports of millions of autonomous AI agents.

He pledged to act on academic proposals presented at the event, including expanding doctoral scholarships for university lecturers and allocating a share of BUMN profits to research – provided the enterprises are profitable.

The announcements were made before roughly 2,600 participants, including university rectors, professors and researchers, signalling a broad push for openness, collaboration and technology‑focused governance.