Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is strengthening international collaboration through a strategic partnership with the Republic of Cyprus in the fields of higher education, research, and technology.
The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Minister Stella Christie and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Indonesia, Nikos Panayiotou, held in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Strengthening Collaboration and Memorandum of Understanding
During the meeting, both parties outlined key points for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at facilitating cooperation between universities in both countries.
Stella Christie emphasized that the MoU is designed as a general framework to eliminate the need for institutions to repeatedly establish new agreements.
"The goal is to ensure that universities in Indonesia are not overly burdened with pursuing MoUs, as this process is time-consuming and diverts focus from substantive collaboration. I want us to have a unified MoU that universities can use as a foundation for cooperation," she stated.
She further noted that Indonesia and Cyprus share several similarities, particularly in the maritime sector, which holds significant potential for joint development.
"Cyprus and Indonesia have many similarities, especially in maritime areas, offering strong potential. Maritime research remains relatively underexplored, and one particularly interesting area is carbon capture," she added.
Scholarship Opportunities and International Research
Ambassador Nikos Panayiotou highlighted that several universities in Cyprus offer scholarships for Indonesian students, ranging from undergraduate to doctoral levels.
He also explained that collaboration could be expanded through European Union programs such as Horizon Europe, which provide access to international research funding.
"Advanced academic mobility plays a crucial role in building networks, fostering professional relationships, and opening up long-term research collaboration opportunities, including those that can be conducted remotely in the future," Nikos said.
The meeting also identified priority sectors for cooperation, including maritime, the blue economy, and tourism.
As a follow-up, the Republic of Cyprus plans to send a technology and innovation delegation to Indonesia in late June 2026 to further expand collaboration with various stakeholders.
Conclusion
This partnership marks a strategic step in expanding Indonesia’s global academic and research network, opening up opportunities for joint innovation, talent mobility, and collaborative research in key sectors such as maritime, blue economy, and emerging technologies.
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