Indonesia, while not be considered one of the leading countries inscience andtechnology developments. However, there are numerous examples of notable scientific and technological innovations, developments, and achievements contributed by Indonesians. Despite being a developing country, Indonesia is one of a handful nations that have developedtheir own aerospace technology.[1]
SinceJoko Widodo administration, science and technology development in Indonesia become one aspect subjected to reform. Currently, after 2021 reform in Indonesian science and technology affairs, the republic'sMinistry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology is the official body in charge of science and technology development in the nation after the disbandment of theMinistry of Research and Technology. The government of Joko Widodo also establishedNational Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), as the sole multidisciplinary sciences, research, and technology development superagency dedicated to science and research in the country, replacing theIndonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and other state research and development agencies.
Since 2018 Indonesian government increased theirresearch and development allocation. In 2018, government allocated Rp33 trillion (approximately US$2,317,985,439 as on 6 September 2021). In 2019, government allocated Rp35 trillion (approximately US$2,458,469,405 as on 6 September 2021). In 2020, government allocated Rp36 trillion (approximately US$2,528,712,000 as on 6 September 2021) for research and development.[2] While it has increased over years, it still holds a very small share of roughly 0.31% of Indonesia'sgross domestic product.[3] Not only that, private sector contribution on Indonesia research is very low. In 2020, 83.88% research funding relied on government, followed by universities (2.65%), business companies (9.15%), and non-profit private groups (4.33%).[4]
Living in an agrarian and maritime culture, the people of theIndonesian archipelago have become well known in some traditional technologies, particularly inagriculture andmarine. In agriculture for instance, the people in Indonesia and many other Southeast Asian countries, are famous forpaddy cultivation and techniques such asterracing. Local systems of complex irrigation and water management have been developed in the archipelagos. An exceptional example isSubak, the irrigation system ofBali.
TheAustronesian people fromNusantara is already accomplished sailor since at least 1500 years B.C. During that era the distribution ofkapur Barus already reached ancient Egypt.[5]: 1
The Austronesians also reachedMadagascar in the early 1st millennium AD and colonized it.[6] By the 8th or 9th century A.D., ancient Indonesian ships may have already reached as far asGhana, likely using the outriggerBorobudur ship and theK'un-lun po orjong.[7]: 41–42 A Chinese record in 200 AD, describes the K'un-lun Po (meaning "ship/perahu fromK'un-lun" — EitherJava orSumatra) as being capable of carrying 600–700 people and 250–1000 tons of cargo.[8]: 347 [9]: 262
The Konjo, Ara and Lemo-Lemo people from the island ofSulawesi in eastern Indonesia are also well known for theirshipbuilding technology. They are renowned for making a wooden sailing vessel called thepalari, using a sail system (rigging) known aspinisi.[10] It is a common misunderstanding that theBuginese,Makassar, and Bira people built these vessels, in reality they are just sail them, not the builder.[11]
The Javanese and Malay people, like other Austronesian ethnicities, use a solid navigation system: Orientation at sea is carried out using a variety of different natural signs, and by using a very distinctiveastronomy technique called "star path navigation". Basically, the navigators determine the bow of the ship to the islands that are recognized by using the position of rising and setting of certain stars above the horizon.[12]: 10 In the Majapahit era,compasses andmagnets were used, andcartography (mapping science) was developed: The use of maps full of longitudinal and transverse lines, rhumb lines, and direct route lines traveled by ships were recorded by Europeans, to the point that the Portuguese considered the Javanese maps to be the best maps in the early 1500s.[13]: 249 [14]: lxxix [5]: 163–164, 166–168 [15]
In architecture, native Indonesians have developed their ownvernacular architecture. Some examples of architecturally significant Indonesian buildings areRumah Gadang of Minangkabau,Tongkonan of Toraja, andomo sebua ofNias. The Omo Sebua is noted for its sturdy yet flexible design which allows it to resist earthquake.
By the 8th century, the Javanese kingdom ofMedang Mataram developed an advancedstone mason architectural technology incandi (temple) building. This includes the magnificentBorobudur temple,Prambanan temple, and many other temples. Architectural techniques that have been developed include knobs, indentations anddovetails used to form joints between stones and bind them without mortar. Other significant architectural advancements include: the roof, niches, and arched gateways constructed in thecorbelling method.
The scientific quest and systematic research in accordance to the modernscientific method began to develop and flourish in Indonesia during theDutch East Indies period, started in the 19th century. The Dutch East Indies has attracted intellectuals, scientists and researchers. Some notable scientists that conducted most of their important research in the East Indies archipelago areTeijsmann,Junghuhn,Eijkman,Dubois andWallace. Many important art, culture and science institutions were established in Dutch East Indies. For example, theBataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, (Royal Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences), the predecessor of theNational Museum of Indonesia, was established in 1778 with the aim to promote research and publish findings in the field of arts and sciences, especiallyhistory,archaeology,ethnography andphysics. TheBogor Botanical Gardens withHerbarium Bogoriense andMuseum Zoologicum Bogoriense was a major centre forbotanical research established in 1817, with the aim to study the flora and fauna of the archipelago.
Java Man was discovered byEugène Dubois in 1891. TheKomodo dragon was first described byPeter Ouwens in 1912, after an aeroplane crash accident in 1911 and rumors about livingdinosaurs inKomodo Island in 1910.Vitamin B1 and its relation toberiberi disease was discovered byEijkman during his work in the Indies.
With growing interest in scientific research, the government of theDutch East Indies establishedNatuurwetenschappelijke Raad voor Nederlandsch-Indië (Scientific Council of the Dutch East Indies) in 1928. It operates as the country's main research organization until the outbreak ofPacific War in 1942. In 1948 the institute was renamedOrganisatie voor Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (OPIPA, Organization for Scientific Research).
After the independence of Indonesia, the government continued to nurture the scientific development and pursuit, through government institutions. In 1956 the OPIPA was nationalized asMajelis Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (MIPI, Indonesian Sciences Council). Then in 1962 the government established theDepartemen Urusan Riset Nasional (DURENAS, National Research Affairs Department), while MIPI are in charge of founding and operates various National Research Institutes. And in 1966 the government changed the status of DURENAS into Lembaga Riset Nasional (LEMRENAS) (National Research Institute). In August 1967 the government dissolved LEMRENAS and MIPI and established the currentIndonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), which runs the scientific efforts and operations that was previously conducted by LEMRENAS and MIPI.[16]
One of four pillars ofVision of Indonesia 2045 is the "human development and the mastery of science and technology". This Indonesian ideal that set the goal for the country by its centennial in 2045, duly recognized and realized the importance of science and technology for the future of the nation.[17]
In 2021, Indonesia experienced reform in the science and technology field with the formation of Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and the National Research and Innovation Agency as part of the government plan in consolidating science and research resources.[18][19][20]
Among the main research and development institutions in the country, are:
Indonesia has many universities. Among the most renowned are theUniversity of Indonesia, theBandung Institute of Technology andGadjah Mada University, which offer science courses.[21] Indonesia ranked 55th on the 2025Global Innovation Index report up from 87th in 2021.[22][23][24]
In October 1994, the State created the Biotechnology Consortium (IBC) whose aim is to develop and use the contributions ofbiotechnology for the benefit of the population, the country, and the conservation of the environment. Around 34 government institutions work in the biotechnology sector. In 2005, the country hosted the BINASIA-Indonesia National Workshop to promote investment in this sector.
Indonesians have also made various advances infood technology, due to the tropical climate in Indonesia teeming with variousmicrobes. Indonesians have developed traditional knowledge infermentation techniques, which resulted in the development of fermented foods such astempeh,oncom,tapai, and also beverages likebrem andtuak. Tempeh is made through natural culturing and a controlled fermentation process, which employs the fungiRhizopus oligosporus orRhizopus oryzae,[25] The fungi binds soybeans into a cake form. It has higher content ofprotein,dietary fiber, andvitamins.[26]
There are some notable technological developments made by natives in modern Indonesia (post independence). In the 1980s,Tjokorda Raka Sukawati, an Indonesian engineer, invented a road construction technique calledSosrobahu. It became popular afterwards and has since been widely used by many countries. The Sosrobahu technique allows long stretches offlyovers to be constructed above existing main roads, therefore minimizes disruptions to the heavy traffic. It involves the construction of horizontal supports for the highway beside the existing road, which is then lifted and turned at a 90 degree angle before being placed on the top of the vertical supports. This forms the flyover pylons. The technology was exported to the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. In 1995, a patent was granted to Indonesia.[27]
TheCakar ayam construction, or literally means "chicken claw construction" is a technical engineering to create a more stablefoundation by employing concrete plate supported by pipes planted deep into the ground acted as "claws", invented by Ir. Sedijatmo in 1961. The technique can be applied on structures, roads and runways. The technical principle consist of a concrete plate foundation is supported and secured to the ground by pipes as "claws", which allows a more stable construction, enable to build structure on soft wet ground such as onswamps. The technique allowed the structure to be more rigid, stable and more durable against uneven weight distribution or uneven land declining.[28]
TheKonstruksi Sarang Laba-Laba (or Cobweb Construction in English) is a construction technique on the foundation of a building in the form of concrete with cobweb shaped iron beams inside it. This construction technique designed by an engineer Ir. Ryantori. The 4 stories building that used the construction technique was proven earthquake resistant during the earthquake in Aceh in 2004.
Indonesia has a long history in developing military and small commuter aircraft. In fact, it is the only country in Southeast Asia to produce and develop its own aircraft. Its state-owned aircraft company (founded in 1976),Indonesian Aerospace (Indonesian:PT. Dirgantara Indonesia) has also produced aircraft components forBoeing andAirbus. Indonesian Aerospace, together withEADS CASA ofSpain, also developed theCN-235 aircraft, which has been exported to many countries.B. J. Habibie, a former Indonesian president, played an important role in this achievement. While active as a professor in Germany, Habibie conducted many research assignments, producing theories on thermodynamics, constructions, and aerodynamics, known as the Habibie Factor, Habibie Theorem, and Habibie Method respectively.[29] Indonesia also hopes to manufacture theSouth KoreanKAI KF-X fighter.[30] The latest development isN-219, a twin-engine 19-seater commuter airplane.[1]
Wiweko Soepono, a formerGaruda Indonesia director, is also known as inventor of the modern two-man cockpit design (Forward Facing Crew Cockpit/FFCC), forGaruda Indonesia AirbusA300 aircraft.[31]
Furthermore, Indonesia has a well-established railway industry with its state-owned train manufacturing company, the Indonesian Railway Industry (Indonesian:PT. Industri Kereta Api), located inMadiun,East Java. Since 1982, the company has been producing passenger train wagons, freight wagons and other railway technologies which it has exported to many countries such asMalaysia andBangladesh.[32]
Indonesia has become a hub for disruptive technology in the logistics sector. Mobile app-based companies likeGoTo and Deliveree have had a large impact on the way parcel, goods, and freight are transported around the country. Logisitcs technology adoption in the country has been substantial withGoTo reporting 100 million[33] monthly active users across its multiple service lines including transportation services for passengers, food, parcels, goods, and freight.
Indonesia was one of few countries during the 1970s to own their owncommunication satellite. Since 1976, a series of satellites namedPalapa were built and launched in theUnited States for Indonesia's state-owned telecommunication company,Indosat.LAPAN, Indonesia's space agency, has expressed a desire to put satellites in orbit with native launch vehicles by 2040.[34]
InInternet technology, an Indonesian information technology scientist,Onno W. Purbo developed RT/RW-net, a community-based internet infrastructure which provides affordable Internet access to people in rural areas.[35]
In 2010sdigital economy began to develop and continue to thrive in Indonesia. Notable example includeGojek; started in 2010 as a call center to connect consumers to courier delivery andtwo-wheeled ride-hailing services. Today, it grow into a Southeast Asian on-demand multi-service platform and digital payment technology group.[36] Another digital economy and service developed in Indonesia includesonline marketplaces such asTokopedia andBlibli.
Indonesian students have a good record of winning many international competitions in science and technology. In 2009, the robotics team from Indonesian Computer University won the gold medal in the "open fire-fighting autonomous robot" category at theRobogames in San Francisco, United States.[37] In 2010, they successfully defended their title. Two years earlier, another robotics team from theTenth of November Institute of Technology won third place in Robocon 2008, a robotics contest hosted by the Asia-Pacific Broadcast Union (ABU) in Pune, India.[38]
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