BRIN scientists in 2026 Top 2% list rise to 16

Jakarta (ANTARA) - At least sixteen scientists affiliated with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have been included in the 2026 Top 2% Scientists list for single-year scientific impact, an increase from the previous year's 12.

Head of BRIN Arif Satria commended the scientists for their achievements, emphasizing that efforts to enhance Indonesia’s scientific standing should go hand in hand with initiatives to ensure research generates knowledge, drives innovation, and delivers solutions to support national development.

"The inclusion of 16 BRIN-affiliated scientists in the 2026 Top 2% Scientists list is an achievement that demonstrates the development of our researchers' scientific contributions at the international level," he said in a statement on Monday.

Arif added that the achievement presents an opportunity to improve research quality, expand international collaboration, and strengthen the contribution of Indonesian science to resolving national and global challenges.

He then emphasized the need to continue fostering a research ecosystem that goes beyond producing quality publications recognized by the global scientific community, but also opens up opportunities for technological development, utilization of research results, and the birth of innovations that address societal needs.

"Excellent research must be able to move from knowledge to solutions, from publication to utilization, and from discovery to impact," he pointed out.

According to him, the achievement should motivate the BRIN research community to improve the quality of research standards, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and build productive national and international networks.

"Our goal is not just to gain international recognition for Indonesian scientists, but also to ensure more research is used, more innovations are developed with industry, and more social problems are solved through science. This is how scientific excellence can benefit Indonesia," he said.

Indonesia is known to have 272 scientists on the 2026 list, an increase from 209 scientists the previous year.

BRIN ranks fifth in terms of the number of scientists listed, after Padjadjaran University, Gadjah Mada University, Airlangga University, and the University of Indonesia.

The Top 2% Scientists list referenced by TOPSCINET is sourced from a standardized scientific citation indicator database compiled by John P. A. Ioannidis and published through the Elsevier Data Repository.

The ranking uses publication and citation data from Scopus to assess researchers' scientific influence based on several bibliometric indicators.

The 16 scientists listed as affiliated with BRIN in the 2026 list are Setyo Budi Kurniawan, Arumugam Priyadharsan, Muhammad Reza Cordova, Ratih Pangestuti, Hanggara Sudrajat, Widya Fatriasari, Andri Frediansyah, and Danny Hilman Natawidjaja.

Followed by Heru Agung Saputra, Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis, Melbi Mahardika, Zulvikar Syambani Ulhaq, Agung Dwi Laksono, Aswin Rafif Khairullah, Wawan Sujarwo, and Abdi Wira Septama.

They engage in various scientific subfields, ranging from environmental science, medicinal and biomolecular chemistry, materials science, polymers, physics, geochemistry and geophysics, analytical chemistry, health, and veterinary science.

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Translator: Sean Filo, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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