Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (DGHERT) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (MOECRT) of the Republic of Indonesia are collaborating to set up a joint research institute, aimed at co-developing research, academic programmes and activities with a focus on climate change and sustainable development.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to set up INSPIRASI (the Indonesia–NTU Singapore Institute of Research for Sustainability and Innovation) – was inked by the Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology of MOECRT with NTU Senior Vice President (Research) and with the Director of Research of Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).
Funded by LPDP, the agreement will last for five years in its first phase of implementation and is expected to open doors for more collaborations in the future. This first-of-its-kind joint research institute is expected to become a hub for world-class research and research-based education (master and doctoral programmes) in Indonesia, as well as the catalyst for collaborations across all universities, research institutes, and industries within the two countries.
INSPIRASI will focus on three research pillars that are deemed highly relevant in Indonesia: Renewable Energy, Circular Economy, and Smart Cities. The first phase of the collaboration will comprise two flagship projects: “Renewable Energy Living Lab” and “EcoCampus”.
Indonesia’s Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology stated that the establishment of INSPIRASI (Indonesia–NTU Singapore Institute of Research for Sustainability and Innovation) will serve as an important milestone to the country’s contribution towards innovation in Renewable Energy, Circular Economy, and Smart Cities.
DGHERT has selected four Indonesian top universities to become the founding university partners along with NTU, namely Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS). The founding universities are committed to opening the activities within the research institute to all Indonesians, including the Indonesian diaspora, that are keen to be involved with the institute.
The Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology of MOECRT emphasised the importance of the collaboration theme for a sustainable future.
The Acting President and Provost Professor of NTU stated that the Indonesia–NTU Singapore Institute of Research for Sustainability and Innovation (INSPIRASI) marks a long-term partnership between NTU, the Indonesian government and Indonesian universities in collaborating on research and academic initiatives in sustainability.
He added that NTU’s key strengths and multidisciplinary competencies in these areas will help nurture future-ready talent and co-create knowledge with Indonesian partners, as well as address key research and development challenges for industries in the region. With a strong education component for both undergraduates and postgraduates, NTU looks forward to a deeper exchange with our Indonesian partners through INSPIRASI.
The Director of Research Facilitation of the Indonesian Education Endowment Fund (LPDP) also expressed his full support, regarding the funding for research activities within the institute.
NTU Senior Vice President (Research) noted that by facilitating collaborative research, innovation and exchanges between NTU and the top four leading research institutions in Indonesia, the Indonesia–NTU Singapore Institute of Research for Sustainability and Innovation (INSPIRASI) is poised to address key challenges in both countries and within the region.
In addition to its role as an education hub to facilitate knowledge creation and transfer between NTU and the four Indonesian universities, INSPIRASI will be an innovation hub of cutting-edge technology, with a research focus on sustainability, particularly in renewable energy, circular economy and smart cities. Moreover, INSPIRASI aims to drive translational research with the potential of technology pull-through to industry, which could in turn attract collaborative opportunities.
The collaboration is expected to start in the middle of 2023, beginning with the signing of the MOA yesterday, to be followed by a Master Research Collaboration Agreement (MRCA) to be developed by the founding universities.
The Member of the NTU Board of Trustees and Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Kuwait stated that while the importance of technology and digitalisation is well known, this project must centre relationships and people, he said. The setting up of INSPIRASI marks an important milestone for a long-term collaboration between Indonesia and Singapore in the field of research and education and demonstrates concrete steps taken by both countries to nurture the next generation of sustainability talents.
