The collaboration opens up opportunities for talent development through internship programs, employment opportunities for ITB students and graduates, and work-integrated learning. In addition, both parties have the opportunity to develop joint research, technology, knowledge exchange, and the use of research facilities.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by ITB Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Prof. Ir. Lavi Rizki Zuhal, Ph.D., and President Director of PT SANY Heavy Industry Indonesia, Li Dao.

The agenda also included a visit to SANY’s production facilities. The ITB delegation observed the heavy equipment manufacturing environment firsthand while gaining insights into the company’s production technologies and future development direction.

Prof. Lavi expressed his appreciation for the opportunity for ITB to gain a closer understanding of SANY’s facilities and vision. He said that the partnership represents an expansion of ITB’s collaborative network with universities and industries in China, which has been developed over the past several years.

The collaboration began in 2023 through a partnership between ITB’s Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering (FTTM) and PT Green Eco-Manufacture (GEM). The partnership later expanded to involve Central South University (CSU), China.

One of its tangible outcomes was the establishment of a joint laboratory at ITB Jatinangor Campus. According to Prof. Lavi, the facility was built from scratch and, within approximately one year, was equipped with various high-standard research instruments.

“This achievement subsequently gained recognition as one of the models of international collaboration between Indonesian universities, Chinese universities, and industry,” Prof. Lavi said.

“The collaboration that has been established has become a success story of how universities in Indonesia, universities in China, and industry can work together. We would like to expand this model of collaboration, including with SANY,” Prof. Lavi added.

From Heavy Equipment to Smart Manufacturing
PT SANY Heavy Industry Indonesia is part of SANY Group, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of heavy equipment and construction machinery, originating from China. The company develops technologies for various sectors, including construction, mining, energy, and smart manufacturing.

In Indonesia, SANY has developed its manufacturing operations since 2021 through the establishment of a production facility in the Karawang Industrial Estate, West Java. In 2020, the company developed its first Lighthouse Factory outside China, incorporating digitalization, automation, and the industrial internet into its production processes.

SANY further expanded its industrial facilities in 2023 through the development of the second phase of its industrial estate to strengthen production capacity and support the needs of Indonesia’s construction and mining sectors.

In addition to supplying heavy equipment for various infrastructure, mining, and industrial projects, SANY also contributes to human resource development through recruitment programs, campus hiring, and the development of young engineering talent.

Chairman of SANY Asia Pacific, Zhang Song, welcomed the visit by the ITB delegation. He views ITB as one of Indonesia’s strategically important universities and a potential partner in technology and human resource development.

According to him, SANY currently focuses on three key directions in its global strategy: globalization, digitalization, and decarbonization.

“In the context of our collaboration with ITB, SANY is committed to advancing research and development (R&D), technology transfer, and capacity building for Indonesian human resources,” he said.

Collaboration with universities, particularly ITB, is expected to broaden opportunities for Indonesian talent to gain experience and competencies relevant to industrial developments, while also increasing their opportunities to take on strategic positions in the future.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration at ITB

The collaboration between ITB and SANY is designed to involve not only a single field of expertise, but multiple disciplines. ITB brings together strengths across its faculties and schools to develop various forms of collaboration aligned with industry needs.

The Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering (FTTM) has the potential to develop collaboration in mining technology and heavy equipment, mining safety and operational efficiency, as well as research related to the mining sector.

Meanwhile, the Faculty of Industrial Technology (FTI) can contribute in the areas of industrial engineering, manufacturing technology, automation, production systems, and the development of technological innovations relevant to industry needs.

In the field of machinery and equipment, the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) has opportunities for collaboration in machine design, mechanical engineering, industrial equipment, and the development of heavy equipment technologies.

The School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (STEI) has the potential to contribute to the development of digital technologies, automation, artificial intelligence, control systems, and industrial digital transformation.

In addition to these faculties and schools, ITB’s Directorate of Research and Innovation (DRI) can support the facilitation and strengthening of research collaboration, technological innovation, and the development of a research ecosystem between ITB and SANY. The visit also involved a delegation from the School of Business and Management (SBM) as part of efforts to broaden the scope of multidisciplinary collaboration.

These opportunities are in line with the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding, which includes education and talent development, research, development and innovation, internship programs, employment opportunities for ITB students and graduates, industry-based learning, knowledge exchange, and the use of research facilities.

For ITB, collaboration with industry serves as one way to connect academic strengths with real-world challenges and needs. Through this approach, students can gain learning experiences that are increasingly connected to the industrial environment, while university research and innovation can have greater opportunities to be developed and applied.

Through this partnership, ITB and PT SANY Heavy Industry Indonesia are expected to strengthen an ecosystem of education, research, innovation, and talent development that is increasingly connected to advances in industrial technology, while also strengthening academic and industrial relations between Indonesia and China.