BRIN: Equatorial Geographic Position Gives Indonesia Strategic Advantage in Space Industry

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has highlighted Indonesia’s significant potential to become a leader in the global space industry, leveraging its unique geographic position to safeguard national sovereignty in space. This ambition is a key focus of the government’s 2025–2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN).

BRIN Head Arif Satria explained that the space sector is predicted to experience continuous global growth. He noted that Indonesia possesses a unique modality not shared by many other nations. “Indonesia actually has an asset that many countries do not: its geographic position around the equator. This advantage provides higher launch efficiency, making Indonesia a strategic potential hub for satellite launch activities in the region,” Arif Satria stated during the celebration of 50 years of Indonesian satellites in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Under the RPJPN 2025–2045, the government is focusing space industry development on three main dimensions that will determine the nation’s competitiveness. Arif emphasised that Indonesia’s geographic position as an archipelagic nation on the equator is ideal for accommodating these three dimensions. This strategic location facilitates the orbiting of space technology and creates new economic opportunities.

“We must transform this geographic advantage into technological, economic, and geopolitical advantages,” he asserted. BRIN is committed to optimising this advantage not only through research but also by supporting the growth of talent aligned with industry needs. This step is expected to create an independent national space industry ecosystem. Furthermore, Arif stated that research capacity building must go hand in hand with the creation of investment and high-skilled jobs, thereby strengthening Indonesia’s position in the global space economy value chain.