Indonesia, France Deepen Cooperation in Research and Higher Education

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and France are strengthening cooperation in higher education, science, technology, and research to promote solution-oriented research and innovation that deliver tangible benefits to society.

Quoting from the official website of Indonesia's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the enhanced partnership was discussed during a meeting between Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, French Ambassador to Indonesia Fabien Penone, and Chief Executive Officer of the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Valérie Verdier, in Jakarta on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding research collaboration, increasing academic mobility, and strengthening partnerships between universities and research institutions in the two countries.

Minister Brian Yuliarto, said Indonesia's rich biodiversity and mineral resources represent strategic advantages that can be combined with France's technological capabilities and research expertise.

"This collaboration will create opportunities for new innovations that can generate high-quality research while supporting the downstreaming of research outcomes into the industrial sector," Brian said.

He also encouraged the expansion of academic mobility programs, including opportunities for more international professors and researchers to teach, conduct joint research, and build collaborative networks with Indonesian universities.

Meanwhile, French Ambassador to Indonesia, Fabien Penone, emphasized that education, research, and academic mobility remain key priorities in the strategic partnership between Indonesia and France. He noted that commitments made by both countries should be translated into concrete programs that deliver mutual benefits.

Furthermore, IRD CEO Valérie Verdier highlighted that the institute has maintained partnerships with various Indonesian universities and research institutions for more than five decades, including with Universitas Gadjah Mada, Institut Teknologi Bandung, and IPB University, as well as numerous other academic and research institutions.

The two sides also discussed the implementation of an Implementation Arrangement between the ministry and IRD, which is expected to expand opportunities for joint research, researcher exchanges, academic mobility, and collaborative programs supported through joint funding mechanisms.

In addition to continuing existing programs, Indonesia and France are exploring future cooperation in strategic fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, space technology, and nuclear technology, which are areas of mutual interest for both countries.