Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indosat and NVIDIA Open Indonesia’s First University AI Center to Develop Local AI Talent

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 AUGUST 2026 —

Indonesia Launches First University AI Center in Partnership with UGM, Indosat and NVIDIA

Yogyakarta, Aug 14 — Indonesia has taken a major step toward building its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities with the launch of the UGM Indosat NVIDIA AI Technology Center (NVAITC) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta. The center, the country’s first university-based AI technology hub, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH), NVIDIA, and UGM.

It is established under Indonesia’s AI Center of Excellence initiative, aiming to foster local AI innovation to address national priorities.

“The Indonesia AI Center of Excellence reflects our long-term vision to position Indonesia as a nation that not only adopts AI but also develops and contributes AI innovations to the world,” said Meutya Hafid, Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs. “Through initiatives like this, we are laying the foundations of Indonesia’s AI sovereignty and ensuring AI becomes a driver of economic growth, national competitiveness and solutions to Indonesia’s most pressing challenges.”

The center will provide UGM researchers and students with access to NVIDIA’s full-stack AI platform and GPU Merdeka, Indosat’s sovereign GPU-as-a-service platform. This infrastructure will enable accelerated computing, AI software, open-source models, development frameworks, and technical mentorship. It will also connect Indonesian researchers with a global network of AI expertise.

“UGM is committed to supporting Indonesia’s AI ambitions through education, research, and innovation that deliver real societal impact,” said Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing at UGM. “This initiative supports national priorities in higher education, research downstreaming and talent development by accelerating the adoption of AI and preparing future-ready Indonesian talent.”

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, a major telecommunications provider in Indonesia, emphasized its role in democratizing AI access. “At Indosat, we believe no Indonesian should be left behind in the AI era,” said Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison. “Through UGM Indosat NVAITC, we are bringing the best of global AI technologies and expertise to Indonesia, while expanding access for the ecosystem of researchers, students, startups, and innovators across the country.”

NVIDIA, a global leader in AI computing, highlighted the potential of Indonesia’s AI community. “Indonesia is home to an extraordinary community of researchers, developers and innovators with the potential to shape the future of AI,” said Marc Hamilton, Vice President of Solutions Architecture and Engineering at NVIDIA. “From healthcare and agriculture to disaster preparedness, the opportunities for AI to drive real change are immense.”

The center will focus on three key projects: healthcare, agriculture, and natural disaster response. In healthcare, researchers are developing an AI-powered electronic screening tool, eNose-TB, to detect tuberculosis (TB) in rural areas. Indonesia records over 1 million new TB cases annually, and early detection remains a challenge in underserved regions.

“As researchers, we have always believed that technology developed in Indonesia can solve Indonesian challenges,” said Dr. Dian Kesumapramudya Nurputra, M.Sc, Ph.D, SpA, from UGM’s Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing. “Through the center, access to world-class AI infrastructure and expertise will help us accelerate our research and bring us closer to our dream of developing affordable and accessible healthcare technologies that can improve lives across Indonesia.”

In agriculture, the SmartAgri project will use multimodal AI—combining satellite imagery, sensor data, and local agricultural knowledge—to provide precision farming solutions tailored to Indonesia’s terrain and smallholder farmers. Nearly 30% of Indonesia’s workforce is employed in agriculture, making this a critical sector for AI-driven innovation.

For natural disaster response, the Tech4Disaster project will develop a geospatial AI platform using NVIDIA’s accelerated computing to process satellite and sensor data in real time. This will enable earlier warnings, better situational awareness, and faster coordination for emergency responders, addressing Indonesia’s high vulnerability to natural disasters due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The launch of NVAITC aligns with Indonesia’s broader AI strategy, which aims to position the country as both a user and a developer of AI technologies. By fostering collaboration between government, industry, and academia, the center seeks to build a robust AI ecosystem that can drive economic growth and address national challenges.

Indonesia’s AI ambitions come at a time when the country is increasingly recognizing the transformative potential of AI across sectors. With a young and tech-savvy population, Indonesia is well-positioned to become a leader in AI innovation in Southeast Asia. The NVAITC is expected to play a pivotal role in nurturing local talent and accelerating AI adoption in key industries.

Stakeholders involved in the initiative have expressed optimism about its potential impact. “This center is not just about technology—it’s about empowering Indonesians to solve their own problems with AI,” said a spokesperson from NVIDIA. “By providing the right tools and infrastructure, we are helping to create a generation of AI-ready professionals who can contribute to Indonesia’s digital future.”

Looking ahead, the NVAITC is expected to expand its initiatives and partnerships to further strengthen Indonesia’s AI ecosystem. As the center matures, it may serve as a model for other universities and countries seeking to develop localized AI solutions.

For now, the focus remains on delivering tangible results in healthcare, agriculture, and disaster management—areas where AI can make a significant difference. With the launch of the UGM Indosat NVIDIA AI Technology Center, Indonesia has taken a decisive step toward realizing its AI potential.

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