BRIN and Korea’s KIST Launch Smart Greenhouse in Cibinong

RRI.CO.ID, Cibinong - The National Innovation and Research Agency (BRIN), in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) of the Republic of Korea, has developed a smart greenhouse facility as a hub for research and testing of intelligent agricultural technologies tailored to Indonesia’s conditions.

The facility, built under the Korean government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, was officially inaugurated at the Korean Smart Greenhouse within the Soekarno Science and Technology Area (KST) in Cibinong, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

Beyond serving as research infrastructure, the facility is designed as a learning platform for Indonesian researchers and engineers to understand the development and operation of controlled-environment agricultural technology. Capacity building has been an integral part of the BRIN–KIST cooperation throughout the construction process.

Head of BRIN’s Energy and Manufacturing Research Organization (OREM), Cuk Supriyadi Ali Nandar, conveyed that the smart greenhouse development is part of the BRIN–KIST collaboration under the Korean government’s ODA program. He noted that the construction process provided technical experience to Indonesian researchers and engineers, who worked alongside Korean experts from the design, installation, commissioning, to system tuning stages.

“What we are inaugurating today is not just a physical building, but a capability. Physical structures can be imported, but capabilities must be built through human resource development,” Cuk said on Wednesday.

Through this involvement, the Indonesian team gained hands-on experience in operating and troubleshooting technical issues within the smart greenhouse system. Cuk highlighted that the competencies developed include system diagnostics, set-point adjustments, and determining component specifications for replacements.

From a technological standpoint, the smart greenhouse functions as a controlled environment equipped with systems to monitor and manage cultivation conditions. Implemented technologies include automatic climate control, wireless sensor networks, Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring, smart irrigation and fertigation, precision nutrient management, and computing systems that enable artificial intelligence (AI) modeling based on greenhouse-generated data.

The facility has now entered a trial phase with the cultivation of premium melons. According to Cuk, the choice of commodity was based on technical and economic considerations, particularly given the relatively high initial investment required for smart greenhouse technology.

“Our techno-economic analysis clearly shows that in a tropical climate, electricity costs account for only a small portion of total production costs. The main constraint lies in the substantial initial capital requirement,” he said, as quoted on BRIN’s official website.

Cuk assessed that implementing smart greenhouses in Indonesia should prioritize high-value commodities. Besides melons, other crops with potential for development through this approach include strawberries, patchouli, specialty vegetables, as well as plant seeds and seedlings.

Moving forward, the facility will serve three main functions within a controlled environment: as a research platform for agricultural technology, a training center for academics and extension workers, and a demonstration site for industry players and investors.

“Our commitment to KIST and the Korean government is to ensure this facility does not become merely a physical monument,” said Cuk.

However, utilization of the facility will not stop at operating the existing technology. Cuk opened the door for further development stages in collaboration with KIST, the National Development Planning Ministry, and the Ministry of Agriculture. Future developments could include post-harvest and supply chain aspects, as well as opportunities for local manufacturing of components in Indonesia.

Director General of KIST Gangneung Kim Joosun, said that the smart greenhouse can serve as a living laboratory and demonstration platform to develop agricultural solutions suited to Indonesia’s tropical conditions.

According to Kim, the facility’s success will ultimately depend on the quality of research and solutions produced. Therefore, KIST is encouraging strengthened collaborative research in areas such as crop production, water-use efficiency, environmental control, and AI utilization.

The facility is also expected to support training and researcher exchanges between Indonesia and Korea. “This inauguration is not the end of the project, but an important beginning. The success of this greenhouse will be measured by the quality of research conducted here and the practical solutions generated for future agriculture,” said Kim.

Support for the sustainable use of the facility also extends to infrastructure. BRIN’s Deputy for Research and Innovation Infrastructure, Dadan Moh. Nurjaman, conveyed that BRIN supports the smart greenhouse construction by providing the greenhouse site, electricity, water sources, internet connectivity, utilities, and other supporting facilities.

According to Dadan, the facility will support the development of various smart agricultural technologies, including greenhouse systems, automation, sensors, and AI. It will also focus on vertical farming, smart irrigation, and modern agricultural production methods.

BRIN Head, Arif Satria, said that the smart greenhouse is part of the bilateral partnership between the two countries and serves as a means to develop and test technologies relevant to Indonesia’s development needs.

“This smart greenhouse is more than just a research facility. It is tangible proof of the strong and growing partnership between Indonesia and South Korea in science, technology, and innovation,” said Arif.

According to Arif, the development of smart agricultural technology aligns with efforts to strengthen the link between research, innovation, and national development priorities, including supporting food sovereignty. In practice, smart agricultural technology is expected to help increase productivity while promoting more efficient use of water, fertilizers, energy, and other resources.

Arif expressed hope that the knowledge and experience generated from the facility would support learning processes, technology validation, and broader-scale application development.

“The knowledge and experience produced from this facility should not remain confined within the greenhouse but can become a platform for learning, technology validation, and further development on a larger scale,” said Arif.

The event continued with a tour and demonstration of smart greenhouse technologies, including sensors, IoT-based monitoring, environmental control, and automatic fertigation. The program also featured a project showcase and discussion on utilizing the facility for research, training, technology demonstration, and knowledge exchange between researchers and partners. ***