RRI.CO.ID, Bandung - Indonesia's Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, inaugurated the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Museum as part of the government's effort to strengthen the national museum ecosystem while preserving the intellectual heritage of higher education institutions. The inauguration took place at the ITB campus in Bandung, West Java, on Friday July 3, 2026.

According to a press release received by RRI Voice of Indonesia on Monday July 6, the opening ceremony was marked by a ribbon-cutting and the signing of a commemorative plaque by Minister Fadli, ITB Rector Prof. Tatacipta Dirgantara, and several prominent national figures.

The museum is expected to serve as a center for education, historical preservation, and the promotion of Indonesia's cultural identity through its academic legacy. In his remarks, Fadli said museums play a far greater role than simply preserving historical collections.

"A museum is a showcase of culture and civilization. It is not merely a place to store artifacts, but the collective memory of an institution. ITB is a distinguished institution that has produced many of Indonesia's national figures, making this museum essential to preserving that collective memory," he said.

Fadli also conveyed university museums are vital to safeguarding institutional history while highlighting the contributions of higher education to national development. He added that museums also strengthen the connection between academia, society, and culture.

The minister expressed hope that the ITB Museum would inspire other universities across Indonesia to establish museums as centers for education, research, and historical preservation. "We want every university, especially those that have existed for more than 50 years, to have its own museum. Museums should be vibrant public spaces that inspire younger generations while also becoming an important part of Indonesia's cultural economy," he said.

He noted that Indonesia currently has around 516 registered museums and expressed hope that the number would continue to grow through collaboration among universities, local governments, businesses, and communities. Such efforts, he said, would strengthen the country's museum ecosystem while expanding public access to cultural heritage and knowledge.

Meanwhile, ITB Rector Prof. Tatacipta Dirgantara said the museum was built on a shared vision to create a space that preserves history while inspiring future generations. "This museum is more than a repository of historical objects. It is a space for knowledge, reflection, dialogue, and inspiration—not only preserving memories of the past but also serving as a source of learning for the future," he said.

The ITB Museum features four main exhibition zones tracing the institution's history since the establishment of Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng in 1920 and includes a 360-degree Theater Dome that offers visitors an immersive digital experience. The Ministry of Culture hopes the museum will encourage broader collaboration among universities, local governments, the private sector, and communities to develop museums as centers of education, heritage preservation, and national identity, in line with Indonesia's commitment to advancing its cultural development.