- Indonesia’s Higher Education Minister emphasizes aligning research and education with eight national priority sectors.
- Universities are urged to develop top talent and solve real-world industrial and community challenges.
- KSTI 2025 gathers experts to promote collaboration between academia and industry for technological self-reliance.
Indonesian Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto emphasized the crucial role of higher education and research in supporting the country’s national development goals during the 2025 National Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI) held in Bandung, West Java, on August 7.
Yuliarto outlined eight priority sectors identified by President Prabowo Subianto that must guide research and talent development efforts: food, energy, health, defense, maritime affairs, downstreaming and industrialization, digitalization (including artificial intelligence and semiconductors), and advanced materials and manufacturing.
He stressed that universities have two fundamental responsibilities, cultivating top-tier talent and conducting research that addresses practical challenges faced by local industries and communities. “Campuses should serve as centers of research and development for nearby companies and act as engines of economic growth”, Yuliarto said.
Highlighting global examples, he noted that universities in other countries often form the backbone of industrial development, a model Indonesia aims to follow. He urged stronger partnerships between academic institutions and industries to align research with real-world needs.
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The three-day KSTI 2025 event, running from August 7 to 9, gathers over 350 university leaders and more than 1,000 top researchers from across Indonesia. The convention focuses on integrating higher education, research, and industry within the eight priority sectors to drive technological self-sufficiency and boost Indonesia’s competitiveness on the world stage.
The event features panel discussions, interactive sessions with global Nobel laureates and academics, and showcases innovations in research and industry, positioning Indonesia’s academic sector at the forefront of national progress.