Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country, and 43% of its 250 million inhabitants are under the age of 25. The Indonesian economy relies mainly on the exploitation of the country's rich endowments of natural resources, and its expansion is therefore tied to developments on global commodities markets, as primary commodities account for more than half of its exports. Indonesia has enjoyed strong and stable growth over the past decade, with GDP growth rates above 5% annually until 2014, and the country has taken important steps toward further opening up its economy. Strong economic performance has led to a considerable reduction in poverty and improvements in living standards. However, there have recently been signs of a slowdown in economic growth and investment, due mostly to lower commodity prices, regulatory uncertainty and infrastructure bottlenecks (e.g. transport congestion). GDP growth is projected to gather pace to reach 5.5% in 2017. As an economy in catching up phase, Indonesia also faces severe environmental challenges in the form of air pollution, deforestation and the depletion of its natural resources. The Vision and Mission of Indonesia S&T Statement (2005‑25) sets out a common vision for improving Indonesia’s global competitiveness and fostering its transition toward a knowledge-based economy. The Third National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN, 2015‑19) is at the heart of the government’s agenda to stimulate inclusive, sustainable growth and its plans to boost the further development of STI in 100 regions. Recent policy emphasis on the role of S&T for achieving national economic development aims to encourage greater R&D investment in the future.