Telkom Partners with NUS to Strengthen Digital Talent Ecosystem and Global Innovation
INFO TEMPO – As the demand for globally competitive digital talent continues to grow, PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom) is reinforcing its commitment to building a national digital talent and innovation ecosystem through strategic collaborations with leading international institutions.
One such step has been realised through a partnership between Telkom University (TelU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had previously been signed by both parties. To mark the start of the collaboration’s implementation, TelU and NUS held a ceremony at the Telkom University campus in Jakarta on Monday, 6 July 2026.
The partnership provides a foundation for the two institutions to develop collaboration in education, research, innovation and digital talent. Its scope covers graduate certificate programmes, student and faculty mobility, joint research, as well as collaboration in Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital business, sustainability, the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, logistics and supply chain management, data centres, and cloud computing.
Through these programmes, both institutions are expected to broaden knowledge exchange, enhance research capacity and produce talent better suited to the needs of the rapidly evolving digital industry.
The partnership follows on from an initiative spearheaded by Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs to strengthen Indonesia–Singapore cooperation in the digital economy and talent development.
The initiative emerged during the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs’ working visit to Singapore in April 2026 and served as the catalyst for the strategic partnership between TelU and NUS, as part of efforts to bolster the competitiveness of Indonesia’s human resources in the digital economy era.
For Telkom, the partnership with NUS is a strategic step in strengthening digital talent development and research capacity relevant to industry needs. NUS’s reputation as one of the world’s leading universities, including its 8th-place position in the QS World University Rankings 2026, opens up broader collaboration opportunities for Telkom University as part of the Telkom Group ecosystem, from curriculum enhancement and faculty development to applied research.
Through this cooperation, Telkom hopes the synergy between academia and industry will grow stronger, supporting the company’s digital transformation whilst advancing the national digital talent ecosystem.
Seno Soemadji, Telkom’s Director of Strategic & Business Development, said the collaboration reflects Telkom’s commitment to building an innovation ecosystem that connects education, industry, government and global partners to accelerate the emergence of digitally talented individuals capable of competing internationally.
“Digital transformation requires not only infrastructure and technology, but also world-class talent and a robust innovation ecosystem. The collaboration between Telkom University and the National University of Singapore is a strategic step to widen Indonesian talent’s access to global networks, knowledge and best practices,” Seno said.
He added that, as Indonesia’s leading digital telecommunications company, Telkom’s role extends beyond being a digital service provider. Telkom is committed to acting as an orchestrator bringing together academia, industry, government and global partners to accelerate innovation and strengthen national competitiveness. Through such collaborations, Telkom is also building a pipeline of digital talent to support the company’s future business needs, including as an enabler for strengthening national digital sovereignty.
“Telkom wants to continue being an orchestrator that connects academia, industry and government. Through this collaboration, we hope to see more digital talent exchange programmes, joint research, innovation partnerships, and the development of AI, cloud, cybersecurity and other digital technology solutions capable of meeting industry needs. We believe the best innovation is born from cross-ecosystem collaboration, and through this synergy we want to continue nurturing talent that will drive Indonesia’s digital transformation,” Seno added.
For Telkom, the partnership with NUS is a strategic move given the university’s track record as one of the world’s finest institutions in research and innovation. The collaboration is expected to widen Telkom University’s access to global networks, strengthen the quality of education, and foster innovations that add value to industry.
Professor Bernard C Y Tan, Senior Vice Provost of the National University of Singapore, said: “We warmly welcome this partnership with Telkom University in advancing education, research and innovation. We believe this collaboration will open up opportunities for knowledge exchange, talent development and joint research that can address challenges at both regional and global levels. We hope this long-term collaboration will deliver meaningful impact for both institutions and society.”
Echoing this sentiment, Telkom University Rector Professor Dr Suyanto explained that the partnership marks an important milestone for TelU in strengthening its role as an educational institution capable of bridging academic needs with developments in the global digital industry.
“Indonesia still needs far more digital talent to support digital transformation and realise the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. Through this partnership with the National University of Singapore, we want to deliver tangible programmes, from academic exchanges and joint research to community engagement. We hope this collaboration will enhance the quality of our graduates whilst providing global experience that is increasingly relevant to industry needs,” Suyanto concluded. (*)