The Joko “Jokowi” Widodo administration’s decision to dissolve the Research and Technology Ministry to make way for the establishment a new ministry focusing on investment has sparked concerns about the future state of science and innovation in the country. The government has proposed that the ministry be merged with the Education and Culture Ministry and that the authority to oversee research be bestowed on the National Research Agency (BRIN), which will become an independent state agency. On April 8, President Jokowi sent a letter to the House of Representatives, seeking the legislative body’s consideration on his plan to merge the two ministries and to create a new ministry tasked with investment affairs. The 2008 State Ministries Law limits the number of ministries in the Cabinet at 34, leaving the President with no choice but to replace an exis…