Universities to Support Research for Indonesia's Giant Sea Wall Plan Development

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) have discussed research support and strengthened collaboration with universities for the Giant Sea Wall (GSW) program. The discussion took place with the Vice Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and Head of the North Coast of Java Coastal Management Authority (BOPPJ), Didit Herdiawan Ashaf, in Jakarta on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

Citing the ministry’s official website, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, stated that the support would be tailored to field requirements based on directives from BOPPJ. He added that the assistance could be realized by assigning ministry representatives to join the BOPPJ team to facilitate coordination and follow-up on research initiatives.

In addition, a Supporting Task Force for the BOPPJ Program will be established. “The objective is to create an entry point for communication with the academic community. We will involve lecturers from the universities previously mentioned to join the task force, ensuring that all relevant fields can be addressed comprehensively,” Minister Brian stated.

Brian further affirmed the importance of knowledge transfer and technological mastery within this strategic project. He expressed hope that the GSW development would not only result in coastal protection infrastructure but also serve as a living laboratory for higher education institutions.

“By involving human resources from universities, we will develop the capacity to maintain and build the infrastructure independently, reducing the need for external consultants and construction personnel,” he said.

Vice Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Didit Herdiawan welcomed the support from Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology for this national priority program. He added that the program’s implementation prioritizes budget efficiency through the optimization of existing government facilities and strengthened coordination among ministries/agencies and regional governments across five provinces along Java’s northern coast.

“Under these circumstances, we seek assistance from university partners and experts who can collaborate with us in this effort,” Didit stated.

The Government plans to build the Giant Sea Wall (GSW), a National Strategic Project spanning 535 kilometers along the northern coast of Java, aimed at protecting approximately 50 million residents from tidal flooding and rising sea levels.