On Saturday (23/04), a delegation headed by the Rector of Universitas Indonesia (UI) Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E, M.A., Ph.D., visited the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) on the occasion of the signing of a wide-ranging agreement between both universities, which covers a Visiting Scholars Programme that would allow scholars from Universitas Indonesia to carry out research in energy, bioengineering, and biomedical engineering with UC Berkeley professors. The programme is fully supported by the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (IDIC), whose delegates were also present on the occasion.
Prof. Ari was accompanied by the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Assets Prof. Dr. Ir. Dedi Priadi, DEA, Director of Cooperation Dr. Toto Pranoto, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng, and delegates from IDIC headed by the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. Other institutions visited by the delegation were the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Mind the Bridge (MTB) dan Plug and Play (two startup accelerators in Silicon Valley), and a Tesla facility.
“This cooperational programme is part of the Scholars Engagement Program for Natural Resources-Based Research and Innovation, which is fully funded by IDIC. This program aims to increase research and researcher capacity of young UI researchers. A pilot project, the first collaboration is between the Faculty of Engineerinng, UI and the School of Engineering, UC Berkeley,” Prof. Ari stated.
Another UI program that has seen support from IDIC is the Research Grant for Selected Topics, a scheme where IDIC provides a year-long grant for four research proposals in sustainable energy, biotechnology, and/or green technology. Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa expressed IDIC’s hope that UI “produce excellent young researchers who possess strong international exposure, are experienced in carrying out research in cutting-edge laboratories. The program may also encourage collaboration in research and publication between UI and institutions of global renown.”
On their visit to Tesla, the delegation was received in person by the Chancellor of the University of California, Gene David Block, who was accompanied by representatives from the School of Engineering and the Asia Pacific Center. The meeting saw the initiation of several educational programs, in particular the first stage of the student exchange program with the Faculty of Engineering. Talks also suggested a Fast Track Program Bachelor Master, where students may complete undergraduate programs in UI and continue their studies in UCLA, in five years, and prospects of a hospital in Indonesia founded and run by the UCLA, with UI amongst the partners.
“Besides the two universities, the UI and LPS team visited several industries in Silicon Valley, including IT Accelerator Start-up Mind the Bridge (MTB) dan Plug and Play. During the visit we discussed the tendencies of big corporations in developing open innovation to accelerate product growth and how companies find and manage startup seed funds which would in turn be matched with global corporations. The two companies engaged in partnership with many American universities of renown and global corporations. In the future, UI will work together with the two companies in searching for startup seed funding in UI and Indonesia to be developed.”
During a benchmarking trip to a Tesla facility in Silicon Valley, the delegation met with ten members of the Indonesian diaspora who are currently employed in the place, among which is Edwin Prasetyo, a software engineer working for Tesla. Among the topics discussed during the occasion were prospects in the development of electric cars and Tesla’s role in its acceleration, and opportunities of careers in Tesla for Indonesians.
