Indonesia, France expand research and education ties

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is expanding cooperation with France in higher education, science and technology after both countries agreed to deepen research collaboration and academic exchanges following leaders' talks last month.

The initiative followed President Prabowo Subianto's visit to France in late May, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and agreed to strengthen research and academic partnerships.

The cooperation aims to develop solutions for development challenges facing both countries.

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto welcomed the partnership, particularly efforts to promote research with practical benefits.

"Indonesia's biodiversity and mineral resources can be combined with France's technological strengths and research capacity to create innovation and support industrial downstreaming," he said.

Yuliarto also called for expanding academic mobility programs between the two countries.

He said Indonesia wanted to bring more foreign professors and researchers to teach, conduct joint research and build networks with local universities.

"We are opening broader opportunities for French professors and researchers to become visiting professors at Indonesian universities," he added.

French Ambassador to Indonesia Fabien Penone said education, research and academic mobility remain priorities in bilateral strategic relations.

"France continues encouraging broader research cooperation with Indonesia, including greater involvement from French research institutions," Penone said.

Valerie Verdier, chief executive of the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), said the institution has partnered with Indonesian universities and research centers for five decades.

IRD partners include Gadjah Mada University, Bandung Institute of Technology, IPB University and several other academic institutions.

The cooperation covers areas including geoscience, disaster mitigation, maritime affairs, biodiversity, environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Both sides said they hoped to expand joint research, researcher exchanges, academic mobility and collaborative programs supported through joint funding.

They also discussed cooperation opportunities in artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space technology, nuclear technology and other strategic sectors.

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Translator: Sean Filo M, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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