UNAIR NEWS – Patents are not merely used to protect a piece of work. Minister of Creative Economy (Ekraf) of the Republic of Indonesia Teuku Riefky Harsya voiced support for developing patents into assets that carry real economic value. He shared this view at the Whats Up Campus Calls Out event titled “Indonesia’s Future: From Innovation to Sovereignty,” held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Airlangga Convention Center (ACC), MERR-C Campus, UNAIR.
Aspects of patents
During his presentation in the podshow session, Harsya explained that one of the key aspects to consider when registering a patent is novelty. “Simply put, a patent is an exclusive right to a new technological invention. If you want to register a patent with the Ministry of Law, it needs to meet the novelty requirement,” he explained.
According to him, innovation development needs to account for technology trends, along with funding quality, so that research outcomes can be optimally developed. He said the hope is that registered patents do not solely serve as intellectual property protection documents, but also carry real economic asset value.
“One of the Ministry of Creative Economy’s tasks is to ensure that registered patents carry real value and economic worth. This is meant to ensure those patents can serve as a foundation for attracting investment and long-term funding,” he said.
Funding access for startups
Harsya also said that the creative economy master plan for the years ahead identifies new technology as one of the key areas of focus, including fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
The Ministry of Creative Economy is working to open up funding and market access for startups. Harsya also emphasized that technology development should aim for the broadest possible range of application.
“For those who run a startup, hold a patent, and want to scale up, our role is to provide access to funding and markets. The goal is for these businesses and technologies to grow from the domestic market to the global stage,” he said.
In line with this, UNAIR Rector Prof Dr Muhammad Madyan MFin said the university has achieved strong results in scientific publication and patent rights. “Our hope is that UNAIR’s research and patent rights don’t stop at publication alone, but can be developed into products that benefit the public,” he said.
Author : Maulya Afifah Zahra
Editor : Khefti Al Mawalia
