Head of the Domestic Policy Strategy Agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) Yusharto Huntoyungo reminded all regional governments in Indonesia not to hesitate to innovate and implement innovations, even simple ones.
Yusharto believes that hesitation to innovate often creates a mental block trap that has hampered the birth of regional innovation.
"We've often hesitated, hesitant to innovate because we consider it too simplistic. Yet, if we don't, our community won't be served inclusively," Yusharto said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He conveyed this when providing direction regarding strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem in Bandar Lampung City at the Semergou Building Hall of the Bandar Lampung City Government.
According to him, innovation does not always have to be complicated or digital-based, but must be able to provide real solutions to various public service problems in society.
He emphasized that regional innovation is basically a renewal in the implementation of regional government that aims to improve regional government performance and the quality of services to the community.
Yusharto explained that the measure of novelty in innovation should not be viewed solely from the perspective of the innovator, but also from the perspective of the community as the beneficiary. He explained that a program considered commonplace in one region can still be considered innovative when implemented in another region that has not previously received similar services.
For example, Yusharto mentioned services for people with mental disorders (ODGJ) that have been implemented in one sub-district but are not yet available in other sub-districts. When these services are introduced to meet the needs of communities in underserved areas, this constitutes regional innovation that provides tangible benefits and expands public services in an inclusive manner.
"So, don't look at it from the perspective of the initiator, but rather from the perspective of the recipient of the innovation," he said.
Furthermore, Yusharto emphasized that regional innovation must meet several criteria, including providing benefits to the community, not burdening or limiting services, aligning with regional authority, and being replicable by other regions. He also emphasized that innovation is not synonymous with digitalization.
According to him, based on data from the 2025 Regional Innovation Index (IID), the majority of innovations reported by local governments are non-digital. This situation demonstrates that creativity in governance and public service delivery can be realized through a variety of simple yet effective approaches.
"This is what creates a mental block among civil servants, preventing them from innovating because they feel they must go digital. In reality, most innovations are non-digital," he stressed.
On the occasion, Yusharto also assured that state civil servants (ASN) need not be afraid to innovate. He explained that the government has provided legal protection for the implementation of regional innovation, as stipulated in Article 389 of Law Number 23 of 2014 concerning Regional Government.
The regulation states that civil servants cannot be punished if regional innovation trials fail to achieve their stated targets. "There are no barriers to innovation. Don't overthink the mental blocks that have been holding us back," he said.
Yusharto also encouraged the Bandar Lampung City Government to continue strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem through collaboration with various parties, including universities, communities, businesses, and the general public. He believes that the involvement of various innovation actors will expand the generation of creative solutions that adapt to regional needs.
He also appreciated the existence of the innovation clinic in Bandar Lampung City, which he believes can be a crucial tool in accelerating the replication of innovations from other regions. This mechanism allows regional governments to adopt and modify various good practices to suit the needs and characteristics of their respective regions.
"Most of the innovations generated by local governments come from replication. The key is to observe, imitate, and modify, while still incorporating new elements according to regional needs," he said.
