SG KU-4078 : Prof. Dr. Ir. Indroyono Soesilo, M.Sc.

Overview

Prof. Dr. Ir. Indroyono Susilo, Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, delivered the ITB Studium Generale on Indonesian–US science and technology diplomacy. He argued that science and technology cooperation is a major diplomatic tool and a pathway for Indonesia to transition from being a “user” of technology to becoming a “producer” that can participate in global supply chains.

Key Themes and Points

US–Indonesia relations and Indonesia’s “free and active” foreign policy

• Susilo linked Indonesia’s early post-independence struggle to US support during key diplomatic and military phases (1945–1949), emphasizing that sovereignty was achieved through sustained diplomacy and international engagement.
• He connected this history to Indonesia’s constitutional mandate to:
  • Reject colonialism, and
  • Support the independence of every nation.
• He positioned Indonesia’s foreign policy as non-aligned—described as “between reefs,” involving engagement with multiple actors beyond a simple two-bloc view.

Indonesia’s strategic role and ASEAN as a stability zone

• He described Indonesia as a middle power with a large population and abundant resources.
• He argued that ASEAN stability enables development without destabilization from great-power rivalry.
• He highlighted Indonesia’s peace-and-security posture, including its involvement in peacekeeping (e.g., an initial force deployed in 1957 to Egypt and subsequent missions), portraying Indonesia as a credible peacemaker.

Ambassadorial responsibilities and why science/technology matters

Susilo outlined four ambassadorial duties:

1. Personal representation of the president
2. Representation of Indonesia to the US government
3. Strengthening cooperation across areas such as politics, economy, social/culture, defense/security, and people-to-people ties
4. Protecting Indonesian citizens abroad

The talk focused especially on science and technology cooperation as a “diplomatic medium” to strengthen Indonesia’s global position.

“Equal partnership,” plus a practical ecosystem gap

• Susilo stated that Indonesia–US relations should be treated as equal.
• He acknowledged an asymmetry: the US has stronger research funding, universities, private-sector innovation, and an ecosystem that rapidly converts research into products.
• He contrasted this with constraints in Indonesia’s process of translating research into industry, citing regulatory and timing challenges.
• He suggested the US model is partly enabled by academic freedom.

Existing Partnerships and Economic Context

Cooperation frameworks mentioned

• Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (signed 2023; action plan 2024–2028)
• Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (signed April 2026)

Trade balance framing

• Susilo said Indonesia runs a trade surplus with the US (Indonesia exports more to the US than the US exports to Indonesia).
• He urged for agreements that preserve cooperation benefits while avoiding harm to jobs on both sides.

Priority “Win-Win” Cooperation Fields

He emphasized sectors where collaboration can be mutually beneficial, including:

• AI
• Semiconductors and data centers
• Health
• Energy and climate
• Advanced/agro/sea resilience and maritime
• Advanced manufacturing

He also proposed joint programs and referenced mechanisms such as:

• LPDP (funding split with overseers from different bodies), and
• Joint-supervision structures designed to support collaborative R&D.

Concrete Examples of Proposed Collaboration

Maritime cooperation

• Linking BRIN with Indonesian institutions and air–sea capability efforts to enable faster collaboration and smoother funding flows.

Critical minerals / rare earths

• Emphasizing upstream–downstream learning:
  • Indonesia for sourcing/surveys
  • US/partners for downstream processing
• He referenced an MoU example involving Iowa and Indonesia/ITB channels.

Natural rubber research for aviation tires

• Collaboration with universities and industry partners to develop aviation-tire materials and related technologies.

Coal gasification and energy substitution

• Using US technology for gasification to create alternatives to imported LPG.
• He referenced demonstrations at mine-mouth sites (e.g., Bukit Asam mentioned).

Food, agriculture, and livestock

• Cooperation involving Indonesian universities and US institutions, including University of California, Davis and others (e.g., Northwestern University mentioned).

Q&A and Discussion Highlights

Data center concerns and environmental/regulatory adaptation

• A student asked how Indonesia can ensure data center development respects water/energy needs and broader environmental ecosystem concerns after US local rejections.
• Susilo responded that, as an island nation, Indonesia can consider sites in regions such as the Batam/Johor/Singapore area, while aligning with Indonesia’s regulatory approach.

Main Q&A themes

1. Data centers: ensuring strict environmental and water–energy regulations, plus appropriate site selection.
2. Negotiation balance: strategies to maintain parity despite US bargaining power, and how Indonesian students can remain competitive with US peers.
3. Technical-to-diplomatic competency: how fields like geology and remote sensing can translate into strategic diplomatic thinking—emphasizing academic freedom, mastery of relevant knowledge areas, and positioning oneself as an equal partner.

Closing Message to Students

Susilo urged students to:

• Pursue STEM opportunities,
• Collaborate internationally, and
• Build competencies so Indonesia becomes stronger through technology production.

He reinforced that academic freedom (as seen in the US) can widen research entry opportunities, but partnerships must be mutually beneficial and aligned with national priorities.

Presenters / Contributors (as named in subtitles)

• Prof. Dr. Ir. Indroyono Susilo (Indonesian Ambassador to the United States; main speaker)
• Prof. Riri (ITB Vice Chancellor; mentioned by the speaker)
• Prof. Tata Cipta Dirgantara (Chancellor of ITB; opening/welcome)
• Ivan Kurnia, ST, M.Si., PhD (moderator)
• Prof. Lavi (mentioned during welcome; exact subtitle name unclear)
• Prika / MBA student “29125307” (YouTube question)
• Nurahman Alwi Sumintarja (Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering; Q&A)
• Emran Faik (Geological Engineering; Q&A)
• Januor Yusuf (Geological Engineering; Q&A)
• “Mr. Waka / Mr. W” (ITB Vice Chancellor/official referenced; name not fully clear in subtitles)
• Mr. Prabowo (President; referenced regarding ambassadorial appointment)
• President Trump (referenced in ambassadorial context)
• Harry S. Truman / “Estruman” (US president referenced historically)
• Institutions referenced: BRIN / DIKTI / LPDP / Ministry of Finance officials (specific individual names unclear in subtitles)