Jakarta. Having recently announced its plan to open its first official office in Indonesia, Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, has revealed that it will be looking to support the country’s healthcare and scientific advancements, particularly in areas such as research, clean energy, and biopharma.

The US-headquartered firm, whose initial foray into Indonesia came in 2015, says it has been witnessing encouraging developments in the realm of science and biotechnology in the country over the past few years, which has prompted it to double down on its presence and efforts in a what it describes as a “high-growth region”.

“Our decision to expand further in Indonesia is driven by the numerous development initiatives in the industries we support,” Thermo Fisher’s Vice President and General Manager of Southeast Asia and Taiwan, Sho-Wen Yeo, said.

In the field of cancer research, for example, the company has been encouraged by the steps Indonesia has taken to enhance the capabilities of scientists, which include the formulation of the National Cancer Control Plan that aims to --among other things--  increase the extent of cancer research being conducted nationally and provide opportunities to enhance evidence-informed policy and scope.

To contribute to this progress, Thermo Fisher aims to support cancer researchers with a comprehensive range of technologies and solutions that expedite their journey from discovery to potential clinical translation for cures and preventive treatments.

In the clean energy space, the government has established the Indonesia Battery Corporation with an investment of Rp 238 trillion as part of its efforts to support Indonesia’s target of producing 600,000 units of four-wheel electric vehicles (EVs) and 2.45 million units of two-wheel EVs by 2030.

Thermo Fisher will be looking to capture this opportunity by offering its cutting-edge solutions in rechargeable batteries that cover a wide range of applications, including battery research, development, and failure analysis, which can contribute to advancements in battery technology and drive the development of more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions.

Meanwhile, in other areas like biopharma, the company says it can play a pivotal role in critical areas such as vaccine and therapeutics development, while in the realm of food security, it can provide solutions that contribute to the safety and quality of food products.

To ensure maximum impact and effectiveness in its work,  Thermo Fisher has established numerous partnerships in Indonesia, including collaborations with esteemed organizations such as the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to enhance competencies in the fields of material science research, clean energy development, and life sciences research.

Engaging and strengthening such partnerships will be key in the early years of its business and operation in Indonesia, the company says.

“Our primary objective within the initial years is to solidify our partnerships and strengthen our foothold in the Indonesian market. It is crucial for us to build brand awareness and engage with a wider customer base. Furthermore, to support our development here, we have plans to expand our team in Indonesia and create more opportunities to nurture local talent," she said.

Pushing more boundaries in Asia
For Thermo Fisher, its expansion to Indonesia coincides with it being named one the most innovative companies in Healthcare for 2024 by the business media brand Fast Company, particularly for its work in improving maternal health and HIV care through testing last year.

In 2023, the company launched an industry-first test to help assess a pregnant woman’s risk of developing preeclampsia - a condition that impacts 1 in 25 pregnancies and is the leading cause of maternal death and infant mortality globally. It is also a new test to detect strains of HIV that are resistant to antiretroviral treatments.

It is such innovations and “commitment to pushing boundaries” that have helped Thermo Fisher establish itself as a leader in serving science and has enabled it to generate an annual revenue of over $40 billion.

Among its latest innovations is a technology that accelerates the discovery of new proteins and advances precision medicine. Named the Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap™ Astral™, the new technology helps researchers to identify new clinical biomarkers, detect diseases at an earlier stage, and develop new interventions for a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

It has also recently introduced a system that equips labs with the necessary equipment to determine ionic contaminants in water. The system, called the Dionex Inuvion Ion Chromatography (IC), also helps identify corrosive contaminants in oil and gas, as well as provides quality assurance and quality control of small ionic compounds in food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

Only this January, the company launched what it describes as its most ethnically diverse array to date, the new Axiom™ PangenomiX Array. This supports disease studies and research initiatives that examine how genes affect individuals’ responses to drugs, powering research projects that enable healthcare providers to use genetic information to predict disease risk and improve treatment decision-making.

Thermo Fisher, it seems, is looking to gradually bring more of these top-tier technological capabilities to Asia.

In February, the company opened a new sterile drug facility in Singapore that aims to help its customers deliver new medicines and vaccines in the Asia-Pacific market. The expansion, the company said, makes it more strategically prepared than ever to respond to the needs of its customers in the region by supporting the accelerated delivery of critical vaccines and medicines to patients.

Of all the countries in the region, however, Indonesia arguably presents the biggest opportunity for Thermo Fisher, given the significant lack of biotechnological innovation to support the country’s healthcare services that serve a population of over 270 million.

According to the 2021 Global Biotechnology Innovation Scorecard, Indonesia ranks 52nd out of 54 countries in biotechnology development.

With some of its cutting-edge technology ready to be deployed to address some of healthcare services' biggest pain points in Indonesia, Thermo Fisher looks to make a notable impact not only on the healthcare and biotechnology space but also on millions of lives in Indonesia.

“With solutions targeted towards infectious diseases, cancer research, reproductive health, precision medicine and more, we aim to support professionals in Indonesia with the innovation they need in their discovery and development of cures and preventive treatments,” Thermo Fisher’s Sho-Wen Yeo said.