WNAM REPORT: The Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is pushing for the strengthening of Indonesia’s industries through industrial research collaboration between Indonesian universities and Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
Indonesian Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto said in Jakarta on Tuesday that through NEDO, the Japanese government is offering several research cooperation schemes that focus on research intended for industrial applications.
This industry-oriented research will also involve Danantara Indonesia sovereign wealth fund as the stakeholder for Indonesia’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs), alongside various Japanese industry players.
According to Minister Yuliarto, several research priorities have been set, including the development of foundational industries such as semiconductors, silicon, solar cells, and mineral downstreaming.
“We will be offering these to higher education institutions and professors. Japan will also contribute its experts, and we will involve its industrial sectors as well,” he said.
He asserted that the goal is for the upcoming research to focus on building advanced industries in Indonesia, moving beyond basic research.
The minister expressed hope that within the next one to two years, such industries will emerge from the program.
Executive Director of NEDO Kikuo Kishimoto stated that his agency not only provides support in science, but also in driving industrial development, like in Indonesia.
He added that for industries to truly thrive, people must solve broader social challenges, including energy, the environment, and social well-being.
In this regard, he expressed hope that the cooperation with Indonesia will go beyond research and development to help realize a better future for the world.
