BRIN partners with Ministry of Culture on civilisation research and language digitalisation
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Ministry of Culture have established a strategic collaboration in cultural research, ranging from uncovering traces of Nusantara civilisation to advancing the digitalisation of regional languages.
BRIN Chief Arif Satria stated in Jakarta on Wednesday that through this research collaboration, BRIN is investigating the potential traces of Nusantara civilisation, estimated to exist since 1.8 million years ago. Should this be scientifically proven, Indonesia would hold strategic significance in geographical and civilisational contexts.
He explained that Indonesia’s position lies between the Pacific region and the Indian Ocean, serving as a convergence point for various major world civilisations. With approximately 708 languages globally, with 10 per cent located in Indonesia, and 1,340 ethnic groups, the potential 1.8 million-year history of Nusantara civilisation is considered extraordinary wealth that strengthens Indonesia’s position as a crucial nexus in global civilisational dynamics.
“This is a task for BRIN, which has the Arbastra Research Organisation (Archaeology, Language and Literature). Our duty is to prove these hypotheses. Archaeology researchers at BRIN are now working hard to discover the finest works of our society from the past,” he said.
Arif emphasised that in the artificial intelligence era, future challenges also relate to language digitalisation. He explained that AI accuracy rates are heavily influenced by the language used. When using English, accuracy can reach approximately 80 per cent. However, with Indonesian, the figure drops to around 60 per cent, and with regional languages only about 42 per cent.
According to Arif, this situation demonstrates the need to strengthen the digitalisation of Indonesian and regional languages to ensure greater recognition in AI systems. This simultaneously serves as a challenge for BRIN to promote the integration of various regional languages into the global digital ecosystem.
“Hopefully, this cooperation with the Ministry of Culture will further build our confidence that our social diversity will become our model to colour the world and inspire it,” said Arif Satria.
Meanwhile, Culture Minister Fadli Zon emphasised that Article 32 (1) of the 1945 Constitution mandates the state to advance Indonesia’s national culture amid world civilisation, whilst guaranteeing society’s right to preserve and develop its cultural values.
According to him, the state referred to comprises not only the Culture Ministry, but all elements in Indonesia from the central government, provinces, cities, down to the most basic level, including the private sector, which have an obligation to advance Indonesia’s national culture amid world civilisation.
Therefore, through cooperation between the Culture Ministry and BRIN, as well as with the Ministry of Communication and Digital, the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency, the Ministry of Forestry, and the Jakarta Provincial Government, it is important to combine various resources and data to ensure optimal management of cultural wealth in the digital era.
“These cultural assets are then transferred to Intellectual Property (IP), which we have not yet extensively maximised. With BRIN, I believe there are many recent research findings that have only recently been announced,” said Fadli Zon.