US Ambassador to Indonesia, HE Robert O. Blake, did a working visit to the campus of Universitas Gadjah Mada on Monday (11/4). The Ambassador met UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D., with other UGM academic leaders to strengthen the cooperation between two countries in the education sector. In addition to the meeting, Ambassador had the opportunity to give a Public Lecture entitled Developing Trade and the Digital Economy in Indonesia at the Senate Hall, which was attended by hundreds of students.
Blake said that Indonesia has the potential of the digital economy in the construction sector. Despite having a large market share, however, the digital economy needs to be supported by triple helix cooperation between academia, private sector, and government. "This collaboration will be able to bring innovation and develop digital industries," he said.
The campus, he said, should be able to create a research cultural climate and innovation among researchers that can produce technology products that can be offered to the private sector in order that these are accessible to the public. "The government needs to support the emergence of innovation through various regulations and policies," he explained.
According to Blake, triple helix concept of cooperation will be successfully implemented in many countries in the world, even producing many new innovations with the emergence of Silicon Valley in the United States as the world center of creative economy. According to the ambassador, the development of Silicon Valley as a world center of creative economy for innovation is supported by research of 10 leading universities. "Silicon valley succeeds because it is supported by the top 10 universities," he said.
So, what can be done by the Indonesian government to support the growth of the digital economy? Blake believes there are three things that can be done by the government: first, enhance access to internet so that e-commerce can grow and innovation continue to thrive; second, improve the speed of Internet access via the mobile telecommunications operator that already exist, and third, improve access to capital for startup industry players in Indonesia. (UGM / adelily)