KBRN, Jakarta: The French Embassy in Jakarta has launched the France–Indonesia Innovation Year 2026, with activities that promote the exchange of innovation and creativity between the two countries. It was launched at a press conference at the French embassy residence in Jakarta, Tuesday (16/12/2025).

French Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN, Fabien Penone, said that the designation is based on meetings between French President Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto over the past year. According to him, both leaders agreed to develop cooperation in innovation and creativity.

"Why? Because we want to look to the future. It is about bringing together our soft power, it is about encouraging business opportunities linked with innovation, science and creation," Penone said.

Speaking to reporters, Penone praised Indonesia for its "wealthy" talents, as well as creative and innovative people. He even said France could learn from Indonesia in the initiative.

"So for France, we have a lot to learn from your country. It is a real partnership; we will also benefit from this collaboration," he said.

French Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN, Fabien Penone delivered remarks in the France–Indonesia Innovation Year 2026 launch event at the French embassy residence in Jakarta on Tuesday (16/12/2025). (Photo: RRI VOI/Rama Shidqi Pratama)

Representing the Indonesian government, Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Stella Christie, welcomed the France–Indonesia Innovation Year 2026. According to her, innovation needs to begin from shared similarities, as Indonesia and France both have strong traditions in arts and local culture.

"We both put a lot, we have a long tradition of art and aesthetics. This is not to be taken for granted; that is intangible," she said in her remarks.

Christie expressed hope that a culture of innovation rooted in local traditions can grow through cooperation between the two countries. According to her, she and Penone want to elevate the programs Indonesia and France have to a higher level so that the collaboration will produce a long-lasting innovation culture.

"In the end, we want to build a culture of innovation that is based on the strengths of each of our countries, and can be combined to produce something greater for the world," Christie concluded.

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The France–Indonesia Innovation Year 2026 will consist of various activities throughout 2026. The embassy said the program highlights the collaboration of people from both countries.

"We highlight researchers, artists, entrepreneurs, and all creators committed to creating new forms of cooperation between our two countries," the statement said.

Some of these initiatives include collaborative programs between Indonesian and French designers to be showcased at Paris Design Week. Titled the Artist Designer in Residence (ADIR), it is a collaboration between Denpasar, Bali-based CushCush Gallery and Institut Francais Indonesia, a French state-owned cultural center.

"A French designer and an Indonesian designer will spend four weeks together working in Bali. Their work will be mentioned on the Paris Design Week," Ambassador Penone said in his speech.

Tara, a French scientific schooner, will study the resilience of coral reefs against climate change in Southwest Papua, Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara waters for a year. The expedition is planned to involve the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), University of Papua, and University of Mataram. (Photo: Fondation Tara Océan)

Other programs include a joint working group on higher education, collaborative research on oceanography, and student and researcher exchange. French experts and delegations will arrive in Indonesia for several programs; including twelve cultural and creative industry companies, a scientific schooner Tara to Indonesian waters, and a book writer to the Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF) in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

In late January, heads of prominent French cultural agencies will visit Indonesia as a follow-up to a declaration between Prabowo and Macron in May 2025. The agencies include the Center of National Monuments (CMN), National Museums Meeting – Grand Palais (RMN-GP), and École du Louvre. The first two are agencies behind iconic French structures like Arc de Triomphe and Grand Palais, while the latter is an art higher education located within Louvre Palace in Paris.

"Their visit will allow them to identify new concrete cooperation projects in museums and cultural heritage, especially in conservation, renovation, and empowerment of cultural assets and sites," the embassy statement said.