Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia is accelerating efforts to achieve greater self-reliance in food, energy, and value-added industries, with science and technology playing a central role in the national strategy.
A meeting in Jakarta in early September 2026 between Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Head Arif Satria, and LPDP President Director Yon Arsal opened opportunities to expand research cooperation between Indonesian research institutions and universities and leading research organizations and universities in the United States.
The cooperation aims to connect Indonesia’s strategic development needs with the advanced research ecosystem in the United States, where research universities, national laboratories, and private industry are closely linked. Such integration can accelerate the transition from research and innovation to industrial applications, investment, and products that benefit society.
Under discussions between Brian Yuliarto and Ambassador Indroyono, research programs currently being developed by BRIN with US institutions could also involve professors from other Indonesian universities, while US researchers could participate in joint programs in Indonesia.
The research initiatives would receive joint funding support. On the Indonesian side, LPDP Research funding would support joint research programs, while LPDP scholarships would provide opportunities for Indonesian students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Among the research initiatives being developed are cooperation in several strategic areas.
Marine Resources and Food Security
BRIN and the Indonesian Navy’s Hydro-Oceanographic Center are developing cooperation with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of California, San Diego.
The collaboration could involve BRIN’s Baruna Jaya research vessel in marine monitoring, sustainable fisheries research, and coastal disaster mitigation.
Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements
BRIN and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) are developing joint research with Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Michigan, and the University of Iowa.
The research is expected to support the development of critical mineral and rare earth technologies needed by strategic industries, including electronics and electric vehicles.
Semiconductor Development
BRIN is also developing cooperation with Arizona State University on semiconductor chip design and fabrication, with support from ARM Corporation.
The initiative is intended to contribute to the development of a domestic semiconductor ecosystem and strengthen Indonesia’s technological capabilities in an increasingly strategic industry.
Energy and Green Transition
BRIN is exploring research on the gasification of low-calorie coal as a potential substitute for LPG with Latitude Energy and the University of North Dakota.
At the same time, BRIN is developing low-carbon energy research with several US industries to reduce emissions while strengthening Indonesia’s energy independence.
Livestock and Nutrition
A joint livestock research program involving BRIN, IPB University, and the University of California, Davis, aims to improve livestock productivity, nutrition, and production efficiency.
The research could generate direct benefits for food security and household nutrition by improving the efficiency and productivity of Indonesia’s livestock sector.
Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises
Cooperation with Northwestern University, developed as part of relations between Indonesia and the US state of Illinois, will focus on machinery and manufacturing capabilities.
The program aims to strengthen small and medium-scale manufacturing and help Indonesian local products become more competitive.
Artificial Intelligence and Data Infrastructure
BRIN is continuing its research tradition in machine learning and machine translation, which dates back to the BPPT era in the 1980s.
The agency is now developing cooperation with major technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Apple, as they expand investment in Indonesia.
The cooperation includes opportunities related to data infrastructure and data centers in Batam, West Java, and Central Java. The broader objective is to strengthen Indonesia’s data infrastructure, accelerate AI adoption, and develop digital talent.
Satellites and Remote Sensing
BRIN is preparing to develop cooperation with NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and Planet Labs. in San Francisco on microsatellites for remote sensing and their applications.
High-resolution satellite data combined with AI could support land monitoring, precision agriculture, disaster mitigation, and natural resource management.
BRIN already has initial capabilities in microsatellite development and has developed expertise in various remote-sensing applications.
The research initiatives being developed with US institutions will also be open to professors and lecturers from Indonesian universities.
Arif Satria said BRIN is undertaking a major revitalization program, including the modernization of laboratory equipment, the addition of new research vessels, and improvements in researchers’ capabilities through international collaboration.
BRIN is also receiving dedicated research funding from LPDP to accelerate the downstreaming of research results so that innovations can be adopted more quickly by industry and used by the public.
Ambassador Indroyono highlighted the mutual benefits of stronger research cooperation. The United States can gain access to Indonesian talent and markets, while Indonesia can benefit from technology transfer, stronger research capacity, and access to a mature innovation ecosystem.
Economic ties provide an additional foundation for deeper cooperation. Bilateral trade between Indonesia and the United States reached US$43 billion in 2025, with Indonesia recording a US$19 billion surplus.
LPDP President Director Yon Arsal said LPDP would support research programs with US universities, particularly initiatives aimed at developing Indonesian human resources and strengthening the industrial ecosystem.
LPDP is also offering a 3–1–1 education model to US universities for Indonesian talent development. Under the scheme, students would spend three years studying at an Indonesian university, followed by one year at a US university to complete their bachelor’s degree and another year pursuing a master’s program at the same US university.
The University of Wisconsin has already begun implementing the 3–1–1 model. The University of Indonesia is also working with Georgetown University in Washington, DC, on diplomacy and foreign service studies.
The next stage is expected to include computer science and carbon sequestration programs involving George Washington University and Indonesian universities. The 3–1–1 program requires participation from at least two Indonesian universities.
The growing network involving BRIN, Indonesian universities, US research institutions, and technology companies offers a potential research-to-commercialization pathway.
Partners include Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Michigan, the University of Iowa, The Ohio State University, the University of North Dakota, UC Davis, Northwestern University, Arizona State University, Georgetown University, the University of Wisconsin, NASA Johnson Space Center, and technology companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Apple, ARM Corporation, Latitude Energy, and Space Lab Corp.
If managed effectively, the collaboration could accelerate research commercialization, strengthen food and energy security, create high-tech employment opportunities, and position Indonesia as an increasingly important innovation partner in the Indo-Pacific. (*)
