The MF2023 team received Kedaireka matching funds in 2023 for the development of laptop motherboards with the aim of increasing TKDN (Domestic Component Level).

This laptop's development increases the TKDN of laptops without BMP (Company Benefit Weight) in Indonesia from 25 percent to 35 percent. It is hoped that this laptop, with a motherboard created by the nation's people, can contribute to reducing dependence on imported electronic components and strengthen the domestic technological industry.

The handover activity was carried out after remarks by the Head of the Microelectronics Center, Ir. Budi Rahardjo, M.Sc., Ph.D., and a brief explanation of the DIKTI’s LMP (Laptop Merah Putih) program by the coordinator of the laptop merah putih development team, Ir. Adi Indrayanto, M.Sc., Ph.D., from SEEI ITB.

This laptop was handed over symbolically by Dr.Eng. Sarwono Sutikno to the Rector of ITERA, Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Pugeng Aryantha.

The Rector of ITERA expressed his appreciation for the laptop. "We, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, express our highest appreciation. This is one of ITB's contributions through Mr. Sarwono from SEEI who received a mandate from the government to develop domestic electronic products in the form of laptops. Hopefully, this will become an asset for ITERA to use as a learning medium for students," he said.

Moreover, he said that the meeting was a moment of collaborative friendship between the Microelectronics Center which fosters entrepreneurship and ITERA, so that in the future it will become part of the domestic electronics industry development ecosystem.

"We will direct all the knowledge at ITERA to support the procurement process for domestic products," he added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Eng. Sarwono Sutikno said, "This is a form of the Center for Microelectronics collaboration. Hopefully, this can help our young brothers and sisters from ITB and ITERA, so that we can collaborate in the development of this laptop merah putih later, especially in terms of Firmware Security (BIOS)."

Furthermore, he stated that last year a PCB assembly was carried out for laptop motherboards in collaboration with a PCB Assembly (PCBA) manufacturer which had a Surface Mount Technology (SMT) machine.

In the future, he said, ITERA can contribute to laptop firmware procurement in order to avoid firmware malware. "We will try to study the firmware, so that later we can strengthen or create our own Indonesian-made firmware at ITERA," he stated.

He explained that the laptop handed over had its PCB assembled by EMS in Indonesia. "The PCB is imported, and so are the components, which are then assembled at Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS). So, we do the PCB assembly. This is only the first stage, and the TKDN is estimated to have increased to around 45 or 55. However, the official calculation will be carried out by an independent verification agency. The ultimate goal is to increase the TKDN. One by one, we will encourage it so that the TKDN will increase over time," he stated.

Reporter: M. Naufal Hafizh
Translator: Hanifa Juliana (Urban and Regional Planning, 2020)
Editor: Kezia Hosana