Indonesia, Malaysia Boost Research and Higher Education Ties

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia and Malaysia are stepping up cooperation in research and higher education, focusing on food security, the green economy, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The commitment emerged during a meeting between Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto and Malaysian Minister of Higher Education Zambry Abdul Kadir, as part of efforts to deepen bilateral strategic partnerships in academia and innovation.

Minister Brian underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration in strengthening research and innovation. “This collaboration is a strategic step to enhance the contribution of research and innovation in both countries in addressing global challenges,” Minister Brian said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He stressed that synergy between researchers and universities in both countries is key to accelerating downstream research and delivering tangible solutions for society.

Minister Zambry said Indonesia and Malaysia have complementary academic strengths that should be optimally utilized through structured joint working mechanisms.

“In principle, we have agreed to establish working groups in these areas by identifying experts from Malaysia and Indonesia to work together in developing the agreed priority sectors,” Minister Zambry said.

Both sides agreed in principle to form working groups or collaboration clusters in priority fields. They will identify experts from both countries to develop joint research agendas.

The collaboration will involve selected universities and researchers within the Malaysia–Indonesia Academic Consortium (KAMI) network. Preliminary discussions have also begun between Malaysian higher education authorities and the Directorate General of Higher Education at Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, to map out the scope and implementation scheme of the partnership.

During the same visit, Minister Zambry toured Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) and met with Malaysian students to explore opportunities for joint agricultural and food-security development.

The strengthened Indonesia–Malaysia partnership reaffirms the ministry’s commitment to expanding productive international collaboration, accelerating talent mobility, and ensuring that research and innovation deliver concrete benefits for national and regional development. ***