Jakarta, INTI - The Ministry of Creative Economy (Kemenekraf) is encouraging Indonesian tech talent to expand their engagement within the Asian technology ecosystem. This initiative is being pursued through a collaboration with ShardLab Ltd. through the Protocol Camp Cohort 9 Final Demo Day in Bali.
Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya stated that strengthening the Emerging Technology sub-sector is a crucial step toward enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesian talent, particularly in the fields of Web3 and blockchain. He believes that cross-border collaboration can bolster Indonesia's position as a generator of innovations and technology products capable of competing in the global market.
"We want to see more Indonesian founders, developers, creators, and entrepreneurs building world-class solutions and elevating their intellectual property from the local level to become national champions capable of competing in the global market," said Teuku.
Encouraging Mastery of Emerging Technologies
He added that this digital talent capacity building aligns with the Creative Economy Master Plan (Rindekraf) 2026–2045. The Emerging Technology sub-sector encompasses various fields, ranging from blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to cybersecurity, robotics, semiconductors, and quantum computing.
"New technologies like blockchain and AI are no longer viewed merely as supporting technologies, but as integral parts of the creative economy ecosystem's development, capable of creating new economic value. Therefore, we must ensure Indonesia possesses talent that is not only capable of using technology but also skilled in building products, creating intellectual property, and developing competitive businesses," he explained.
The Protocol Camp Cohort 9 Final Demo Day featured 10 builder teams from various Asian countries presenting products developed during the program. Six Indonesian talents participated in this cohort, which marked the third batch of the program to operate at an Asia-wide level.
Muhammad Neil El Himam, Deputy for Digital Creativity and Technology at Kemenekraf, noted that the development of blockchain and AI technologies is becoming increasingly intertwined with daily life and economic activities.
“The evolution of blockchain and AI demonstrates that new technologies are becoming increasingly integrated into daily life and economic activities in Indonesia. Consequently, our focus must not stop at the technology itself, but rather on how it is translated into products, business models, and solutions that yield real-world impact and create added value for the creative economy,” he stated.
Protocol Camp 2026 is a 12-week bootcamp and mentorship program that brings together builders from various Asian countries. Before the Final Demo Day in Bali, Cohort 9 participants completed a Mid Demo stage in Seoul in July 2026.
One of the Indonesian teams featured in the program is Serenade Data. The team developed a financial literacy platform for children that employs a gamified approach, using various interactive simulations to introduce concepts such as saving and investing.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Creative Economy (Kemenekraf) is encouraging Indonesian tech talent to expand access and collaboration within the Asian technology ecosystem. Strengthening emerging technology subsectors, including Web3, blockchain, AI, IoT, cybersecurity, robotics, semiconductors, and quantum computing, is considered crucial for enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesian talent and fostering the creation of products and intellectual property capable of competing globally.
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