The minister made the statement during a meeting with Bulgarian Ambassador to Indonesia Tanya Dimitrova on Monday in Jakarta, where they discussed various potential cooperation avenues between Indonesia and Bulgaria.
"We hope to forge collaboration between universities. We welcome programs such as visits by professors from Bulgaria to Indonesia and the possibility of joint degree programs. We also hope to send Indonesian students to Bulgaria," he noted in a statement on Tuesday.
Yuliarto emphasized that his ministry plays a crucial role in promoting technology-based industries and innovation as the foundation for future economic growth, aligning with the vision of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
To achieve this goal, he suggested a joint funding scheme for collaborative research between the two countries.
"Indonesia will provide funding, as will Bulgaria. However, the two countries must conduct joint research and publish the results," he explained.
He expressed hope that the collaboration would not only focus on the exchange of students but also joint funding for more sustainable research.
"With this scheme, professors of both countries can be paired according to their fields so that the research conducted can be more impactful," he remarked.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Dimitrova was quoted as saying that she welcomed Minister Yuliarto's proposals, saying that Indonesia and Bulgaria have cooperated through the Erasmus+ program, which enables various universities to carry out projects, student exchanges, and professor exchanges.
She also highlighted the significant potential of information technology (IT) and digitalization. Bulgaria is recognized for its advanced IT industry and has the highest percentage of women employed in the IT sector within the European Union (EU).
The anticipated collaboration is expected to yield sustainable benefits for the advancement of higher education, science, and technology in Indonesia and Bulgaria while supporting Indonesia's national interests.
The various planned collaborations encompass inter-university cooperation programs, joint research efforts, exchange programs, capacity-building activities, and sharing information on best practices.
One of the main references is the Operational Programme Science and Education for Smart Growth (OP SESG), which has been implemented in Bulgaria.
Related news: Indonesian foreign minister's Bulgaria visit targets market expansion
Related news: Indonesia, Bulgaria discuss cooperation in digital sector
Translator: Sean Filo, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
