We want Indonesians to hold their heads high because we can also compete with nations capable of building technology-driven industries,Jakarta (ANTARA) -
Indonesia is training young researchers and engineers to strengthen its semiconductor workforce as the government pushes to build a domestic chip industry and reduce reliance on foreign technology.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto said the effort would focus on developing skilled talent through universities and the national research ecosystem.
“This program is about building our nation’s confidence, to show that Indonesia can also move up and build advanced, technology-based industries,” Brian said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Saturday.
He said human capital would determine whether Indonesia can establish a competitive semiconductor sector within the next five to 10 years.
“The most important thing is human resources, which will become the backbone of everything, especially our young talents,” he said.
The initiative aims to strengthen links between universities, research institutions, and industry, positioning higher education as a hub for applied research, strategic technologies, and globally competitive engineers.
“We want Indonesians to hold their heads high because we can also compete with nations capable of building technology-driven industries,” Brian said.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is partnering with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia, and British semiconductor technology company Arm to train participants.
The first phase will involve up to 1,000 participants, including university students, researchers, recent graduates, and technical professionals.
They will undergo an intensive three-day chip design program using Arm-based technology. The program will gradually expand to train 15,000 Indonesian semiconductor specialists.
The initiative supports President Prabowo Subianto’s Quick Wins Program, which prioritizes economic growth, industrial downstream development, and digital transformation.
Officials also announced the Indonesia 2026 Semiconductor Hackathon, which will bring together students, academics, researchers, and industry experts.
The event will focus on chip design for Internet of Things applications, smart energy systems, smart agriculture, and next-generation computing technologies.
The government sees the initiative as part of broader efforts to position Southeast Asia’s largest economy within the global semiconductor supply chain as demand rises for chips powering artificial intelligence, connected devices, and advanced manufacturing.
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Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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