Bali’s AI Ambitions Gain Momentum Through Proposed Tsinghua Partnership

Speaking at the China-Southeast Asia Forum on Higher Education and Industry Cooperation 2026 in the Kura Kura Bali SEZ on Sunday, October 4, 2026, Chairman of Indonesia’s National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, called for closer collaboration in AI research to accelerate the country’s technological and digital transformation agenda.

“I would like to see Tsinghua University join AI research on this island in the near future, even as soon as possible. If possible, I would like this to happen this year,” Luhut said, as quoted by Antara.

Luhut said Indonesia has already established an AI research center at Kura Kura Bali and is looking to strengthen its capabilities through the involvement of international researchers and technological expertise, particularly from Tsinghua University, which is regarded as a leader in artificial intelligence research.

He said the proposed collaboration aligns with Indonesia’s effort to develop government technology (GovTech) systems aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability in public services while reducing opportunities for corruption.

Luhut noted that President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the government to accelerate the implementation of technology-based governance initiatives, making international cooperation in research and innovation increasingly important.

Beyond technology transfer, Luhut emphasized that Indonesia wants its partnership with China to evolve into a deeper innovation-based relationship. “We do not just want equipment. We want scientists, knowledge, and an innovation ecosystem,” he said.

To support that vision, Luhut invited Tsinghua University to establish joint laboratories, collaborative research programs, research funding schemes, and scientific publication initiatives with Indonesian universities and researchers. He described Kura Kura Bali as strategically positioned to become a bridge connecting education, research, and industry across Indonesia, China, and Southeast Asia.

Luhut said cooperation between the two countries should deliver tangible outcomes for technological advancement and human resource development rather than remain limited to academic exchanges. He added that Indonesia and China possess significant potential to connect universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, industries, and young innovators in creating solutions that address real societal needs.

Through such collaboration, Luhut hopes Bali can develop into a center for talent, technology, and research, bringing together academia and industry while strengthening Indonesia’s role in Southeast Asia’s growing innovation ecosystem. ***