Institut Teknologi Bandung

The lecture, titled "Guarding a Progressive Indonesia Towards 2045 Golden Indonesia Vision" began with opening remarks by ITB’s Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Prof. Ir. I Gede Wenten, M.Sc., Ph.D. Prof. Wenten emphasized the critical role of competitive research in mastering science and technology. This foundation is essential for establishing a robust scientific base among scholars.

“It is crucial to cultivate an outstanding scientific culture to strengthen scientific capabilities. We must strive for global standards, not merely settle for our own,” he asserted.

Prof. Wenten highlighted ITB’s achievements in scientific reputation, supported by data from SCIVAL and SINTA. These accolades are reflected in the high scores for "Top Tier (Q1) Publications/Faculty" and the most citations per faculty member. These accomplishments underline the excellence and impact of ITB's research efforts.

Furthermore, ITB has engaged in productive collaborations with top-ranked global universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge, resulting in high-impact joint publications. In Indonesia, ITB leads in faculty citations, outperforming other universities.

Prof. Wenten also underscored the importance of fostering a superior scientific culture as the core of ITB’s success. "We aim not only to produce high-quality research but also to ensure these results benefit society at large, both nationally and internationally," he stated.

He emphasized strategic transformation steps involving the mastery of science and technology in strategic industrial issues, the maritime continent perspective, and the blue economy outlook.

During his lecture, General Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan expressed that ITB is capable of nurturing Indonesia’s future leaders. He noted ITB's significant potential to positively impact Indonesia's future.

He also stressed the importance of education and skills development in preparing for the global era. "Young generations must continuously learn and develop themselves to compete internationally," he advised.

To achieve the vision of a Golden Generation by 2045, several pillars are essential, including environmental sustainability, effective waste management, adaptation to globalization, and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). He suggested that ITB explore cyber studies, considering Indonesia's current vulnerability to cyberattacks.

General Luhut pointed out that fostering innovation must go hand-in-hand with developing human resources, research, and technology. "Indonesia’s research output still lags behind India and China, despite our many brilliant scientists," he observed.

Despite the promising potential for future innovations by the young generation, he warned of various challenges ahead, such as education quality, the absence of Indonesian science and technology clusters in the global top 100, food security, digital AI disruption, climate change energy transition, geopolitical fragmentation, and economic competition.

Harnessing Renewable Energy in Indonesia

General Luhut also emphasized Indonesia's vast natural resources, making it a haven for Renewable Energy (RE). Efficient use of RE will not only reduce carbon emissions but also create new job opportunities and enhance national energy security.

"Indonesia is poised to attract clean energy investments worth $4 trillion by 2030. ITB’s involvement in this domain is vital," he explained.
He suggested that ITB’s expertise and research focus on developing efficient and environmentally friendly technologies, such as Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), to enable more sustainable coal utilization.

Moreover, Indonesia could leverage geopolitical fragmentation to attract investment relocations from China and developed nations.

He envisioned Indonesia's potential to become a high-income country by boosting economic growth above 5%. However, Indonesia must be prepared to tackle short-term challenges by focusing on industrialization, downstream processing, efficiency through digitalization, sustainable economic development, and the development of superior human resources.

"ITB, as an educational institution, plays a crucial role in developing human resources, research, and technology," he concluded.

With a focus on environmental preservation, effective waste management, adaptation to globalization, and prudent use of AI, young generations can build a sustainable, innovative, and prosperous Indonesia.

Reporter: Ali Bahtanazar Umar (Chemical Engineering, 2021) and Anggun Nindita