BRIN Signs Space Development Cooperation Agreement with India in Biak, Papua

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) officially signed a cooperation agreement on space development in a ceremony held at the State Palace on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. BRIN Head Arif Satria attended at the event, which was also witnessed by Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The signing of this cooperation agreement marked a significant milestone in PM Modi's state visit to Indonesia. The presence of the two heads of state at the ceremony demonstrated the high level of attention the governments of both countries place on the development of the space sector as part of strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and India.

He explained that the scope of cooperation between BRIN and ISRO is quite broad, encompassing space technology, satellite launches, and the construction of a spaceport in Indonesia. "So, BRIN and ISRO, India's space agency, have been collaborating to monitor satellites in India," he said.

He also stated that this collaboration is not new, as the two institutions have long communicated regarding satellite monitoring. "Then we will launch a satellite produced by BRIN in India," Arif said.

The satellite to be launched is domestically produced by BRIN and is planned to monitor environmental conditions, including aspects of food security and satellite imagery. Arif considered this achievement significant progress, considering that Indonesia now has the capability to produce its own satellites without being completely dependent on foreign technology.

In addition to satellite launch cooperation, BRIN and India are also exploring plans to build a spaceport, with one of the locations being considered being in Biak, Papua. This plan has even received direct attention from President Prabowo and PM Modi, who are pushing for the cooperation to be strengthened and realized immediately.

With direct direction from both heads of state, BRIN is optimistic that this collaboration will accelerate Indonesia's independence in space technology in the coming years. "Earlier, I received a message to follow up immediately, so we can launch our own satellite in collaboration with India," Arif conveyed.