Jakarta, INTI - The government is preparing Balikpapan and the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) as a pilot area for the implementation of future technologies, from artificial intelligence (AI)-based public services to integrated smart city systems.
Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, emphasized that IKN is not simply a relocation of the center of government, but rather a symbol of the birth of a world-class city. With international funding support for smart city planning reaching USD 2.49 million in early 2026, IKN is designed to be a living laboratory for future technologies.
"IKN is designed to be a living laboratory for future technologies, like autonomous vehicles, smart energy systems, and inclusive AI-based public services," said Nezar during an online training program on Tuesday, June 9.
"Balikpapan, as the main gateway to IKN, plays a crucial role as a digital buffer that must maintain equal and integrated public service standards," added Nezar.
This development is crucial because, according to data from the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025, Indonesia still faces challenges in technological and knowledge readiness that must be accelerated immediately.
DLA 2026 Program
In addition to this development, Kemenkomdigi is also striving to accelerate the knowledge development of leaders, both central and regional government officials, through the Digital Leadership Academy (DLA), which aims to produce digital leaders who excel in People Centricity, Agile Strategy, and Agile Execution.
"The DLA 2026 program is designed with a comprehensive curriculum that covers 10 core competencies aligned with the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI). We're not just talking about cloud computing or cybersecurity, but also about enterprise architecture that ensures cross-agency data integration and the use of AI for data-driven decision-making," explained Nezar.
Nezar encouraged DLA 2026 participants to use this opportunity to broaden their knowledge, build collaborative networks, and change their mindsets to be more progressive and transformative.
"Our mindset must first change, because digitalization doesn't just mean creating applications to assist us administratively, but also about how we think about problem-solving, finding solutions, and providing the best service to the public," he said.
Conclusion
The government is preparing Balikpapan and IKN as pilot areas for the application of future technology, including AI-based public services, integrated smart city systems, and autonomous vehicles. As the main gateway for IKN, Balikpapan is also positioned as a digital buffer that must have equal and connected public service standards. To support this transformation, the government is encouraging increased digital leadership capacity through the Digital Leadership Academy (DLA) 2026 program which has a curriculum based on SKKNI and covers areas such as cloud computing and cybersecurity.
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