Samarinda Government and Hasanuddin University Explore Tech Innovation to Support Nusantara Capital City
The Samarinda City Government and the Board of Trustees of Hasanuddin University (Unhas) are exploring a strategic collaboration to strengthen the education, research, and technology sectors, projected to support Samarinda’s position as a buffer zone for the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). Samarinda Mayor Andi Harun stated on Wednesday that with a population approaching one million, the city urgently needs innovation and human resource development amidst the rapid dynamics of IKN construction. “Samarinda is very open to cooperation. There are many things we can collaborate on, and I hope this synergy will truly produce something concrete and beneficial for the community,” he said when receiving the Unhas Board of Trustees delegation led by Chairman Prof. Dr. Andi Alimuddin Unde at the City Hall. Prof. Andi Alimuddin emphasised that as a state university with legal entity status, Unhas has the autonomy to build partnerships that directly impact regional development. “Local governments possess natural resource potential and development needs, while universities have human resources, research, and innovation. When these two are brought together, real solutions will emerge,” he stated. Several local potentials mapped by the Samarinda government for collaboration include the maritime industry and shipyards, utilisation of scrap ship iron, management of old oil wells, STEM-based health and education services, raw water treatment, as well as the food and livestock sectors. Meanwhile, the Deputy Mayor of Samarinda stressed the importance of downstreaming research so that it does not just remain on paper, but is implemented to form an ecosystem that directly benefits the citizens of Samarinda. One idea that captured attention during the meeting was a plan to develop an electric-powered waste transport fleet. The Mayor warmly welcomed the electric vehicle innovation previously showcased by Unhas in the IKN area. The use of this fleet is considered capable of improving efficiency and preserving the environment. In addition to the electric fleet, both parties are also exploring the development of modern Smart City Incinerator technology. Through Unhas’ international network, Samarinda has the opportunity to partner with an Australian entity to process waste into energy with added value. This innovation will complement the incinerator programme already built by the Samarinda city government in several sub-districts. In the agricultural and fisheries sectors, Unhas also offered various ready-to-use research outputs, such as high-productivity corn varieties, shipping technology, and raw water treatment research to reduce the operational costs of the regional water company. As a follow-up and legal basis for this cooperation, the Samarinda City Government and Unhas will soon draft a Memorandum of Understanding. Meanwhile, for programmes that are ready for execution, such as the electric waste fleet and incinerator, both parties will immediately ratify a Cooperation Agreement so that they can be realised on the ground without delay.