Indonesia and France Strengthen Research and Innovation Partnership in 2026
The Indonesian and French governments have formally strengthened collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation to accelerate national transformation. This strategic agreement was reached during President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Paris, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, 28 May.
In a joint statement, both leaders confirmed that higher education, research, and academic mobility are top priorities for bilateral cooperation. Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto welcomed the meeting outcomes as a crucial step to bolster national competitiveness.
‘Indonesia-France collaboration in higher education, science, technology, and innovation is a long-term investment to strengthen national competitiveness,’ Brian stated in a press release from Jakarta on Friday, 29 May.
Brian added that the partnership presents a strategic opportunity to expand international networks for Indonesian universities. Key focus areas include developing cutting-edge research, enhancing human capital quality, and accelerating innovation commercialisation to directly benefit society.
As concrete steps, both countries have adopted a Joint Declaration on Education, Research, and Mobility. Additionally, Indonesia and France are preparing to hold a Joint Working Group on Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, scheduled for July 2026 in Angers, France.
Indonesia’s interest in exploring nuclear technology with France was a key point in the joint statement, aligning with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology’s policy to position universities as hubs for solving global development challenges, including energy independence and advanced technologies.
This strengthened partnership is expected to create a more adaptable higher education ecosystem in response to scientific advancements while positioning Indonesia as France’s strategic partner in Southeast Asia.