Jakarta, INTI - PT PAL Indonesia (Persero) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) are strengthening domestic maritime technology development through research into a clean energy-based propulsion system for KRI Sriwijaya-100.

The collaboration forms part of Indonesia's broader efforts to achieve greater technological independence in the national defense sector, particularly in developing expertise in ship propulsion and energy systems.

PT PAL Indonesia Production Director Diana Rosa said in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday that industry involvement in research activities is essential to ensuring that research outcomes can be translated into practical applications.

According to Diana, research and technology development should generate innovations that offer more than scientific value and directly address the needs of domestic industries.

"Research outcomes must be translated into applicable technologies that address industrial needs," she said.

The strengthened partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Research and the Utilization of Research and Innovation Outcomes in Indonesia's Maritime Industry.

The agreement establishes a framework for PT PAL and BRIN to expand cooperation in research, technology development, and the application of innovations across the maritime, energy, and process industries.

PT PAL and BRIN Focus on Developing KRI Sriwijaya-100's Propulsion System

One of the key priorities of the PT PAL–BRIN partnership is the research and development of a clean energy-based propulsion system planned for KRI Sriwijaya-100.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to explore more advanced propulsion and energy technologies by leveraging Indonesia's domestic research and innovation capabilities.

The development is expected to strengthen Indonesia's ability to produce ship systems that meet the requirements of its domestic defense industry.

For the country's shipbuilding sector, mastering propulsion technology is essential to improving its capabilities in ship design, engineering, and construction.

Propulsion systems play a strategic role in supporting various aspects of shipbuilding, from initial design and engineering to the integration of multiple onboard systems.

Developing domestic expertise in this field is also an important step toward reducing the national shipbuilding industry's reliance on foreign technologies.

By strengthening local research and engineering capabilities, Indonesia's maritime industry is expected to gain greater capacity to independently develop advanced shipbuilding technologies.

Diana explained that the development of KRI Sriwijaya-100's propulsion system represents an effort to combine the research capabilities of national research institutions with the practical expertise of the domestic shipbuilding industry.

"The development of KRI Sriwijaya-100's propulsion system is one of the initiatives aimed at bringing research capabilities and industrial experience together," she said.

The collaboration allows BRIN's research expertise and PT PAL's industrial experience to complement each other in developing strategic maritime technologies.

PT PAL contributes its extensive experience in shipbuilding, while BRIN strengthens the research and innovation capabilities needed to advance national technological development.

Through this synergy, research outcomes are expected to progress into technologies with practical industrial applications, including the development of advanced ship systems.

Bridging Research and Industry to Accelerate Technology Commercialization

Beyond propulsion system development, the PT PAL–BRIN partnership also aims to narrow the gap between research institutions' findings and the operational requirements of industry.

Industry involvement from the early stages of development is considered essential to ensuring that research outcomes are aligned with technological requirements in manufacturing and shipbuilding processes.

Both institutions are working to ensure that innovations do not remain confined to the research stage but can be further developed toward practical industrial implementation.

This approach is part of a broader effort to strengthen the relationship between research activities, technology development, and the needs of Indonesia's maritime industry.

Diana expressed hope that the partnership would generate technologies with strategic value for strengthening the country's maritime industrial capabilities.

The development of a clean energy-based propulsion system for KRI Sriwijaya-100 is also expected to serve as a step toward expanding Indonesia's mastery of strategic technologies through domestic research capabilities.

Through sustained cooperation, PT PAL and BRIN aim to enhance Indonesia's capacity to independently develop more advanced maritime technologies.

Human Capital Development Supports Defense Industry Independence

In addition to generating technological innovations, the PT PAL–BRIN collaboration is expected to improve human resource competencies in advanced shipbuilding technologies.

Strengthening human capital is a crucial element in building national capabilities for conducting research, developing innovations, and implementing maritime technologies sustainably.

These efforts are expected to support the industry's ability to master strategic technologies, particularly those related to ship systems and engineering.

Diana emphasized that sustained cooperation between research institutions and industry players is essential to building stronger national technological capabilities.

The synergy is also expected to accelerate the adoption of domestic innovations while enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesia's shipbuilding industry.

The partnership between PT PAL and BRIN represents part of Indonesia's broader strategy to build a more self-reliant maritime industry through strategic technology development, human capital enhancement, and the utilization of domestic research outcomes.

In the long term, the collaboration is expected to contribute to greater defense industry independence while strengthening Indonesia's ability to develop internationally competitive shipbuilding technologies.

Conclusion

The collaboration between PT PAL Indonesia and BRIN marks an important step toward strengthening Indonesia's maritime technology independence through domestic research, clean energy innovation, and advanced propulsion system development. By combining research expertise with industrial experience, the partnership is expected to accelerate the application of homegrown technologies, enhance human resource capabilities, and reduce reliance on foreign technology. Ultimately, the initiative aims to build a more competitive and self-reliant national maritime and defense industry.

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