---
title: "Indonesia Shows How Not To Encourage Life Sciences Innovation"
summary: |-
  President Widodo promised a renewed focus on innovation and economic growth. But his government has undermined its own strategic goals by badly weakening intellectual property laws that are critical for innovative industries are to thrive.
date: "2017-08-31"
issues: ["Intellectual Property", "Biopharmaceutical Innovation"]
authors: ["Stephen Ezell"]
content_type: "Op-Eds & Contributed Articles"
canonical_url: "https://itif.org/publications/2017/08/31/indonesia-shows-how-not-encourage-life-sciences-innovation/"
---

# Indonesia Shows How Not To Encourage Life Sciences Innovation

When Joko Widodo assumed Indonesia’s presidency in 2014, he promised a renewed focus on innovation and economic growth. But as Stephen Ezell writes in *Law360,* his government has undermined its own strategic goals by badly weakening intellectual property laws that are critical for innovative industries are to thrive. The ill effects of Indonesia’s moves are particularly evident in its life-sciences sector, which now ranks among the world’s least competitive market environments, with low investment appeal and poor innovation potential.

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*Source: Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)*
*URL: https://itif.org/publications/2017/08/31/indonesia-shows-how-not-encourage-life-sciences-innovation/*