Indonesia faces the challenge of enhancing research and technological innovation to boost competitiveness. Achieving this requires fostering an optimal scientific culture, particularly in supporting the growth of the domestic defense industry.
Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of ITB, Prof. Ir. I Gede Wenten, M.Sc., emphasized this during the National Defense Industry Seminar titled “Building the Independence of the National Defense Industry through Optimizing Innovation Activities, Research, Increasing TKDN (Domestic Component Level), and Development Based on Intangible Assets.” The seminar took place in the West Hall of ITB, Bandung, on Monday (20/11), facilitated by the collaboration between the Center for Defense and Security Technology of ITB, Defend ID, PT SDI, and Gamma Metrics.
Speakers at the seminar delved into the conditions and trends of Indonesia’s national defense industry, focusing on discussing domestic component-level policies.
Tazar Marta Kurniawan, PT LEN Operations Director, emphasized the necessity for improved innovation to propel the development of the domestic defense industry. He highlighted DEFEND ID’s pivotal role in increasing the utilization of domestic components, revealing that 40% of DEFEND ID products are recognized as superior defense systems in Indonesia.
“The aspects encapsulated in TKDN are directly linked to the defense industry’s production process. Therefore, SBM ITB plays a crucial role in developing Indonesia’s defense system, especially in motivating the defense industry,” stated Kurniawan.
Marshal Pratama Dedy Laksmono, the Director of Defense Technology and Industry at the Directorate General of Defense Potential, Ministry of Defense, acknowledged the significant role of the Ministry of Defense in promoting the national defense industry through innovation and technology.
Dr. Ir. Ary Setijadi Prihatmanto, the Center for Defense and Security Technology of ITB, noted that the collaboration between PT Len (DEFEND ID) and the Ministry of Defense (Indonesia) has been effective in encouraging the utilization of TKDN in Indonesia’s national defense industry. The partnership between state-owned defense industry holdings and defense institutions represents a crucial step in enhancing the quality of Indonesia’s defense industry for optimal development of the defense system.
