Indonesia Urged to Boost Competitiveness Through Innovation at ITB Summit

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s future industrial competitiveness takes center stage at the Bandung Institute of Technology's School of Business and Management (SBM ITB) Industrial Summit 2026, held in Jakarta on August 19–20, in partnership with the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow.

Designed as a platform to unite policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and innovators, the summit explored how Indonesia can adapt to global economic shifts and technological disruption through innovation, technology mastery, and stronger collaboration between government, business, and academia.

Opening the event, ITB Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Lavi Rizki Zuhal, emphasized that universities must evolve beyond their traditional role. “Higher education should be part of an ecosystem that generates knowledge, innovation, and solutions for real challenges in society and industry,” he said, as quoted on ITB's official website.

From an international perspective, Dean of the University of Glasgow, Wendy, highlighted the importance of academic partnerships in addressing interconnected global economic challenges. The collaboration between SBM ITB and Glasgow was showcased as a model for bridging knowledge and perspectives across borders.

Director of Internationalization at Glasgow, Xiang Li, reinforced the value of global networks in expanding academic collaboration and strengthening innovation capacity.

Adding a policy dimension, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto delivered a keynote stressing that Indonesia’s economic transformation must go beyond infrastructure. He underscored the need to enhance human capital, foster innovation, and build industries capable of creating added value.

“Rapid technological change and shifting global supply chains demand that Indonesia continuously improve productivity and competitiveness,” he noted.

The summit also marked the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, underscoring the enduring relevance of economic thought in shaping modern policy. Alongside the summit, SBM ITB hosted the 10th International Conference on Management in Emerging Markets (ICMEM) under the theme “Reimagining Global Markets: Embracing Humanities for Sustainable Business.”

Both forums reinforced SBM ITB’s role as a hub connecting academic insight, public policy, and business practice. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the Industrial Summit 2026 aims to strengthen Indonesia’s capacity to navigate global economic change and drive sustainable, innovation‑led growth. ***