Indonesia urges universities to help develop national semiconductor project
Research due for completion in May 2028 is expected to support Indonesia’s chip design capabilities.
Indonesia’s universities have been asked to contribute research, chip design expertise and talent development to the national Red and White (Merah Putih) Chip project. Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto said the programme needed clear direction and firm foundations at each stage.
The ministry is working with several universities on semiconductor research, according to its Director General of Research and Development, Fauzan Adziman. One research programme is scheduled to finish in May 2028 and is expected to help underpin the country’s ability to design chips.
Work on the project is currently focused on building the chip design ecosystem with partners. A development environment, known as a sandbox, is already available. It was previously used for a hackathon that brought together 338 students in 98 teams from 41 universities.
Development work covers several chip types and takes account of technical and economic feasibility. The roadmap extends from design to potential fabrication, alongside planning for staffing and skills.
Officials are also discussing a policy framework and coordination between institutions to clarify responsibilities. Those talks include government participation, the role of state-owned enterprises and possible policy instruments. Legal arrangements and decisions on what information can be disclosed also need to reflect the programme’s readiness.
