Komdigi Inaugurates Garuda Spark Innovation Hub In Jakarta, Other Cities Following

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs inaugurated the second Garuda Spark Innovation Hub in Jakarta, after previously inaugurating its first Innovation Hub in Bandung.

Director General of the Komdigi Digital Ecosystem, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, explained that Garuda Spark was formed to encourage national digital transformation with a unique approach, namely "nationally coordinated but locally adapted".

He explained that every hub that exists and will be built in another city, will have the potential of their respective regions, and will be built through collaboration with the central government, local governments, private sectors, and also civil society, including universities.

"Locally adapted means, that what really reflects the potential of the region. For example, in Jakarta, we make the theme sustainable business, so clean energy, sustainable technology. Then in Bandung are AI and creative industry, in Medan, agriculture and consumer products, maybe in other places it is different," said Edwin at the Launching of the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub and the Indonesian Digital Community Index (IMDI) on Thursday, October 2.

Edwin added that the existence of an innovation hub is expected to be an important instrument to reduce Indonesia's ICOR (Incremental Capital Output Ratio), while increasing economic competitiveness.

"India managed to reduce its ICOR from 7.5 to below 4. Indonesia is now compared to countries in ASEAN, the ICOR is still quite high. Well, then that is a necessity that technology transformation, digital transformation must be carried out in Indonesia," he explained.

Through Garuda Spark, the government is targeting 4 million beneficiaries, consisting of 2 million digital talents and 2 million technopreneurs. This program will be expanded to Medan and Aceh before the end of 2025, with the activation phase being carried out immediately after launch.

"We believe that Indonesia will advance as a digital power that is not only at the national level, but also globally and we are very confident, and that is our hope actually by launching a Garuda spark innovation hub," continued the Minister of Communication and Industry, Meutya Hafid.

With cross-party collaboration, Garuda Spark is expected to become a motor for digital economic growth that is inclusive, fair, and sustainable.