Jakarta, INTI - Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) is hosting the 2026 Indonesian Flying Robot Competition (KRTI), bringing together 94 teams developing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology from 43 universities across the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area and the ITK Balikpapan campus.
Organized by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs under Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the five-day competition is being held from September 21 to 25, 2026.
A total of 373 university students are scheduled to compete in designing, building, and independently testing UAV systems.
ITK Rector Prof. Agus Rubiyanto said being selected as the host was both an honor and a responsibility for ITK as a technology-focused university located in the IKN support region.
“As a technology university growing in the IKN support area, we want to ensure that the event runs smoothly and provides students from across Indonesia with an opportunity to showcase their best work,” he said.
Universities Showcase UAV Innovation
Several universities have sent teams to compete, including Mulawarman University and Lambung Mangkurat University from Kalimantan.
Other participating institutions include Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Surabaya State Electronics Polytechnic, Airlangga University, Telkom University, BINUS University, and the Indonesian Islamic University.
Agus said he hoped KRTI 2026 would serve not only as a competition but also as a platform for developing young talent in Indonesia’s UAV technology sector.
UAV technology can support a wide range of applications, including mapping and area monitoring, navigation, disaster mitigation, and logistics distribution.
ITK Partners with Dhomber Air Base to Support Flight Safety
ITK has coordinated with several agencies to ensure flight safety and smooth air navigation throughout the competition.
“ITK has coordinated with various parties, including Dhomber Air Base, to support flight operations, safety, permits, and technical preparations in the field,” Agus said.
The staging of KRTI 2026 in the IKN area brings together the development of future-city technologies with UAV innovations created by students from universities across Indonesia.
Conclusion
KRTI 2026 provides a platform for Indonesian university students to develop and demonstrate UAV technology while strengthening the country’s young engineering talent. Held in the IKN area, the competition also highlights the potential role of UAVs in future applications such as mapping, disaster response, monitoring, and logistics.
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