Jakarta, INTI - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) strengthened its international research network through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BRIN's Research Organization for Energy and Manufacturing (OREM) and Northeastern University (NEU) China.
The MoU serves as an umbrella for strategic cooperation in mining, minerals, advanced materials, manufacturing, and sustainable industrial systems. The collaboration includes joint research, researcher exchanges, human resource development, scientific publications, data and research material exchange, and technology development to increase the added value of mineral resources.
BRIN's Center for Industrial Systems and Sustainable Manufacturing (PRSIMB) and NEU's School of Resources and Civil Engineering also signed a Project Agreement that will focus on developing intelligent mining and strengthening the innovation ecosystem in the minerals industry.
Nugroho Adi Sasongko, Head of PRSIMB, stated that this collaboration is an implementation of the Indonesia-China Government-to-Government Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on science, technology, and innovation, signed in September 2023.
He stated that accelerating the downstreaming of nickel, cobalt, rare earth metals, and battery materials requires an intelligent manufacturing system that aligns with sustainability standards.
Technological, Efficiency, and Sustainability Strategies are Important
Meanwhile, Prof. Cuk Supriyadi Ali Nandar, Head of BRIN's OREM, assessed that the success of the next phase of downstreaming will be determined by technological mastery, process efficiency, and the application of sustainability principles.
He stated that Indonesia now supplies almost half of the world's nickel needs and produces ferronickel, stainless steel, and value-added products. However, he believes that natural resource superiority alone is no longer sufficient to maintain global competitiveness.
Cuk stated that the national mineral industry still faces challenges such as low utilization of automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), process optimization, and digital twins, as well as increasing demands for emission reduction, waste management, and compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
He explained that the implementation of intelligent manufacturing allows production processes to be monitored in real time through sensors, AI, and digital twins, thereby increasing productivity, energy efficiency, and maintenance reliability, while simultaneously reducing operational costs and emissions.
He added that industrial transformation also needs to be supported by energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, electrification of production processes, verification of greenhouse gas emissions, and the implementation of a circular economy.
Through this partnership, BRIN and Northeastern University are committed to strengthening the mineral industry innovation ecosystem through collaborative research, technology development, and human resource capacity building to support the transformation of Indonesia's mineral industry to be more competitive, value-added, and sustainable.
Conclusion
BRIN strengthened its international research collaboration with Northeastern University (NEU) China by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Project Agreement to develop research in mining, minerals, intelligent manufacturing, and sustainable industrial systems. This collaboration includes joint research, laboratory establishment, researcher exchanges, human resource development, and the development of intelligent mining technology to support downstreaming and increase the added value of Indonesia's mineral resources.
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