Kickoff Event of the Artificial Intelligence Institute for Progress (AIIP) by Alpha JWC Ventures and Pijar Foundation

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is believed to provide a significant boost to Indonesia’s economy.

According to Indonesia’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, this technology has the potential to contribute up to US$366 billion, equivalent to Rp574.8 trillion, to the national GDP by 2030.

Director General of Research and Development at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Fauzan Adziman, emphasized that Indonesia has a strong foundation in the form of hardworking young talent.

However, the challenge lies in directing this talent to become not only users but also developers of AI.

“We often focus on becoming AI users. In fact, what we need is to push our talent to become developers,” said Fauzan Adziman during a public discussion hosted by the Artificial Intelligence Institute for Progress (AIIP) at Prosperity Tower, SCBD, Wednesday (August 27, 2025).

Fauzan also explained that the ministry is currently working on advancing AI through curriculum development.

“That’s why the ministry is pursuing cross-disciplinary AI curricula, micro-credential programs, and partnerships with global companies such as Intel, IBM, and Google,” Fauzan added.

He further explained that AI holds vast potential to drive progress across various sectors.

“In food security, for example, AI is used together with drones and IoT to map fertilizer needs. In the energy sector, AI can help process minerals to create higher added value,” Fauzan explained.

Efforts to bridge the gap between technological innovation and real-world needs are also being carried out by AIIP, which just launched its second batch in August 2025.

The program, established in 2024 through a collaboration between Alpha JWC Ventures and Pijar Foundation, carries the mission of accelerating AI adoption while cultivating digital talent.

The first batch of AIIP proved effective by engaging 15 AI startups and six major partners, resulting in several cross-sector pilot projects. Some startups even secured follow-on funding, including Whale, which closed a US$60 million round.

This year, the second batch features nine selected startups paired with corporate partners, focusing on long-term integration.

AIIP is supported by major sponsors TikTok Shop by Tokopedia and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

“This program is important to empower local innovators so their ideas can grow into real, scalable solutions,” said Anthony Amni, Country Director of AWS Indonesia.