What's happening in PresUniv
Setyono Djuandi Darmono, the founder of the Jababeka Group and President University, described his experience in building a Silicon Valley in Indonesia. He said this in the webinar "Mencari Inovator Indonesia" (Looking for Indonesian Innovators) organized by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Saturday (7/11). This event has been carried out by BPPT since 2018.
According to the data from the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020, Indonesia ranks 85th out of 131 countries. This shows that the competitiveness of Indonesian innovations still needs to be improved. "Indonesia must always innovate so that it is not left behind with other countries," said Darmono.
Jababeka's efforts to build a Silico Valley in Indonesia, said Darmono, were made to answer his concerns over the national economic conditions in 1989. He then built the Jababeka industrial area in Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java. After more than 30 years of operation, the Jababeka industrial area was able to invite 2,000 companies from 33 countries around the world to invest and simultaneously create 1 million jobs.
To develop a climate of innovation, in 2001, Darmono founded President University in the middle of the Jababeka industrial area. "This campus was built as a foundation for Indonesian children to innovate," said Darmono. He said again, President University is also the answer for parents who cannot afford to send their children abroad.
With a lecture system that uses English, President University has many students from abroad. About 15% of students at President University are foreign students. Besides that, President University has also collaborated with universities from abroad. "So the international atmosphere is felt there," said Darmono.
In order to develop a climate of innovation, Darmono encourages President University students to become entrepreneurs. Even Jababeka is ready to partner with these young people. What Jababeka is doing, said Darmono, is part of its aspiration to build 100 companies in Indonesia. "This is to realize Indonesia's vision to become a developed country and have an innovative generation," he concluded. (LG/SL)
Membangun Generasi Inovatif
Setyono Djuandi Darmono, pendiri Grup Jababeka dan President University, memaparkan pengalamannya dalam upayanya membangun Silicon Valley di Indonesia. Ia menuturkannya dalam ajang webinar Mencari Inovator Indonesia yang diselenggarakan oleh Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi (BPPT), Sabtu (7/11). Ajang ini sudah dilakukan BPPT sejak 2018.
Menurut data Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020, Indonesia menempati urutan ke-85 dari 131 negara. Ini menunjukkan bahwa daya saing inovasi Indonesia masih perlu ditingkatkan lagi. “Indonesia harus selalu berinovasi agar tidak tertinggal dengan negara lain,” tegas Darmono.
Upaya Jababeka untuk membangun Silico Valley di Indonesia, ungkap Darmono, dilakukan untuk menjawab keresahannya terhadap kondisi perekonomian nasional pada 1989. Ia lalu membangun kawasan industri Jababeka di Cikarang, Bekasi, Jawa Barat. Setelah lebih dari 30 tahun beroperasi, kawasan industri Jababeka mampu mengundang 2.000-an perusahaan 33 negara di seluruh dunia untuk berinvestasi dan sekaligus menciptakan 1 juta lapangan kerja.
?Untuk mengembangkan iklim inovasi, pada 2001, Darmono mendirikan President University di tengah-tengah kawasan industri Jababeka. “Kampus ini dibangun sebagai fondasi bagi putra-putri Indonesia untuk berinovasi,” tegas Darmono. Katanya lagi, President University juga jawaban untuk orang tua yang tidak sanggup menyekolahkan anaknya ke luar negeri.
Dengan sistem perkuliahan yang menggunakan bahasa Inggris, President University banyak mahasiswa dari luar negeri. Sekitar 15% mahasiswa di President University adalah mahasiswa asing. Selain itu, President University juga menjalin banyak kerja sama dengan universitas-universitas dari luar negeri. “Jadi atmosfer internasional sangat terasa di sana,” tutur Darmono.
?Guna mengembangkan iklim inovasi, Darmono mendorong mahasiswa President University untuk berwirausaha. Bahkan Jababeka siap bermitra dengan anak-anak muda tersebut. Apa yang Jababeka lakukan, ungkap Darmono, bagian dari cita-citanya untuk membangun 100 perusahaan di Indonesia. “Ini untuk mewujudkan cita-cita Indonesia menjadi negara maju dan memiliki generasi yang inovatif,” pungkasnya. (LG)
