BRIN Launches Digital Tools to Monetize Indonesia's Cultural Heritage

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The National Innovation and Research Agency (BRIN) is moving to commercialize Indonesia's vast cultural heritage, launching a comprehensive digital blueprint to transform scientific and cultural data into profitable creative ventures.

Unveiled during the BRIN Goes to Industry Forum at the BJ Habibie Building on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the agency introduced the 101 Ide Industri Kreatif (101 Creative Industry Ideas) e-book alongside a massive digital language corpus. The dual release marks a strategic shift for the state research body, which aims to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial market opportunities.

Rather than letting academic studies gather dust on library shelves, BRIN is actively pushing its findings directly into the commercial sector. Head of the Archaeology, Language, and Literature Research Organization (OR Arbastra) at BRIN, Harry Jogaswara, emphasized that local culture must serve as a crucial foundation for modern economic innovation.

He noted that creative works derived from authentic roots do not merely generate revenue but also reinforce the nation's cultural identity.

“BRIN, through various research initiatives, records the rich treasury of knowledge, culture, history, and life of the Indonesian people. It is from this wealth of knowledge that the 101 Ide Industri Kreatif e-book was born as a bridge between knowledge and opportunity,” said Harry, as quoted from BRIN official website.

The newly launched digital book compiles extensive fieldwork conducted by researchers at BRIN's Research Center for Religious Heritage and Civilization. It is specifically tailored to inspire creative entrepreneurs, small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), and regional governments to develop commercial products.

The publication details practical concepts for commercial storytelling, product design, indigenous culinary ventures, cultural souvenirs, educational tourism, and modern digital media production.

“Through this e-book, BRIN invites creative industry players, MSMEs, communities, local governments, and various partners to see research not just as a source of knowledge, but also as a source of ideas, value, and collaboration opportunities,” explained Harry.

Further driving this data-monetization strategy, BRIN also debuted CILCO (The Corpus of Indonesian Language, Literature, and Community). Developed by the agency's Center for Language, Literature, and Community Research, CILCO functions as a massive digital repository containing more than three million tokens of linguistic data.

The platform tracks the evolution, societal usage, and regional variations of the Indonesian language, providing an open-access goldmine for educators, linguists, and digital content creators looking to monetize localized data.

Harry underlined the high economic value of data in the current technology market, arguing that Indonesia's linguistic wealth has remained largely underutilized by local industries.

“Data is the new gold. Data has become a highly valuable resource in the digital era. Those who own and are capable of utilizing data will hold a significant role and influence. With CILCO, we empower Indonesian language and literature," said Harry.

The simultaneous release of the creative ideas guide and the digital language corpus underscores BRIN's broader institutional mandate to deliver tangible public utility from state-funded science.

By equipping the business community with data-driven cultural assets, BRIN hopes to foster a more resilient, highly competitive national creative ecosystem built directly upon Indonesia's unique heritage. ***

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