Jakarta, INTI - The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) hosted a public lecture titled "Enhancing Science Diplomacy between Korea and Indonesia: Opportunities and Challenges" at the East Hall, ITB Ganesha Campus, on Monday, November 2, 2026. The event featured Dr. Park Jin, CBE, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the KAIST Center for Science Diplomacy. He discussed opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea through science, technology, and innovation.
During his presentation, Dr. Park Jin highlighted the increasingly significant role of science diplomacy in international relations. Amid rapid technological advancements, scientific cooperation not only drives knowledge creation but also provides a means of addressing global challenges, enhancing national competitiveness, and strengthening diplomatic ties.
"The world is now entering an era of technopolitics, where technological developments are increasingly interconnected with national policies and strategic interests. In this context, science diplomacy has become an essential approach to building mutually beneficial international cooperation," he stated.
He explained that science diplomacy involves three key dimensions: using scientific knowledge to support foreign policy, leveraging diplomatic relations to expand research collaboration, and utilizing scientific cooperation to build trust between nations.
Indonesia and South Korea Have Complementary Strengths for Collaboration
Dr. Park Jin highlighted the development of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and South Korea, which were established in 1973. Bilateral ties have continued to evolve through various strategic partnerships, including enhanced cooperation in April 2026.
He noted that both countries possess complementary strengths that create significant opportunities for deeper collaboration in science and technology.
South Korea has developed strong capabilities in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, batteries, automotive technology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Meanwhile, Indonesia offers considerable potential through its young population, expanding digital economy, abundant critical minerals such as nickel, and renewable energy resources.
"Combining these strengths creates opportunities for both countries to expand cooperation that goes beyond technological development, delivering tangible benefits to society while supporting sustainable development," he explained.
Five Strategic Areas for Science and Technology Collaboration
Dr. Park Jin identified five strategic areas with considerable potential for cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea.
The first is Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation. Cooperation could focus on developing technological infrastructure, strengthening research capabilities, and advancing human-centered AI applications.
The second area involves critical minerals and battery industry development. By combining Indonesia's abundant nickel resources with South Korea's technological expertise, both countries can strengthen a more sustainable and environmentally friendly battery industry value chain.
The third area is energy transition and climate technology. Dr. Park highlighted opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy, nuclear technology, and carbon capture solutions to support emission reduction efforts.
The fourth area focuses on marine science and the blue economy. He pointed to the Korea–Indonesia Joint Marine Technology Research Center at ITB as an example of bilateral cooperation that could be further expanded to support ocean monitoring, marine resource management, and disaster mitigation.
The fifth area is human resource development and university networking. He emphasized the importance of student and researcher exchanges, scholarship opportunities such as the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), and stronger partnerships among universities, industries, and governments.
One initiative he proposed was establishing an Indonesia–South Korea Science Diplomacy Network involving higher education institutions, including ITB and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The network is expected to create more opportunities for joint research, knowledge exchange, and innovation.
"Through this event, I hope to establish a platform for exchanging ideas on how higher education institutions can strengthen international relations through science and technology," he remarked.
The public lecture also offered broader insights into the importance of cross-border collaboration in addressing future challenges while creating opportunities for academics and researchers to contribute to innovations that benefit society.
Conclusion
Indonesia and South Korea have significant opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation through science diplomacy, particularly in AI, semiconductors, battery technology, renewable energy, and marine innovation. By leveraging their complementary strengths and expanding academic and research partnerships, both countries can accelerate technological advancement, strengthen competitiveness, and support sustainable development.
Read more: Indonesia’s Universities Urged to Play a Greater Role in the National AI Ecosystem