Garuda Spark Innovation Hub launched to develop regional innovation
Tangerang Regency (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) has launched the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub (GSIH), connecting 10 cities to ensure that talent and innovation in various regions have access to a wider ecosystem of technology, investors, industry and markets.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said GSIH serves as a shared workspace for talent, startups, academics, and central and regional governments to accelerate national digital transformation.
“We created Garuda Spark to form a shared workspace for all these elements. Because in order to strengthen our capacity for digital transformation, all of these elements must sit together in one shared space,” Meutya said in Tangerang Regency on Wednesday.
Meutya also emphasised that this connectivity must be translated into economic growth. Therefore, GSIH is also encouraged to contribute to achieving the 8 percent economic growth target while lowering the Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR) investment efficiency ratio from 6 to 4.8.
GSIH uses a Hub and Spoke concept. Ten hubs are located in Jakarta, Batam, Medan, Bandung, Malang, Makassar, Papua, Yogyakarta, Aceh and Surabaya. Meanwhile, spokes serve as regional ecosystem points connected to the hubs, allowing local talent, startups and innovations to enter the national network.
Kemkomdigi is targeting the Garuda Spark network to grow to 500 points, with an additional 10 Garuda Spark locations in 2026.
“We want a balance between technology products from abroad and innovations born domestically,” she said.
GSIH is also directed to become a two-way global gateway. Through this network, Indonesian innovation is expected to enter international markets, while investment, technology and global networks can enter Indonesia with stronger and more equal partnerships.
GSIH carries the principle of “Locally Adapted, Nationally Coordinated, Globally Connected”. This means that through GSIH, regional potential is developed according to local needs and characteristics, strengthened through national coordination and networks, and then expanded towards global markets and ecosystems.