Yogyakarta, August 13, 2026 – The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi), Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH), NVIDIA, and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) today officially launched UGM Indosat NVIDIA AI Technology Center (NVAITC). This marks the country's first university-based AI technology center dedicated to advancing AI research, innovation, and digital talent development. Established as part of the Indonesia AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE) initiative, UGM Indosat NVAITC brings government, global technology leaders, industry, and academia to accelerate applied AI research in Indonesia's priority sectors.
Meutya Hafid, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, said, "The Indonesia AI Center of Excellence reflects our long-term vision to position Indonesia as a nation that not only adopts AI, but also develops and contributes AI innovations to the world. This center is an important milestone in realizing that vision by strengthening our capabilities in research, talent development, and technological innovation. Through initiatives like this, we are laying the foundations of Indonesia's AI sovereignty and ensuring AI becomes a driver of economic growth, national competitiveness, and solutions to Indonesia's most pressing challenges."
Powered by NVIDIA's full-stack AI platform and GPU Merdeka, Indosat's sovereign GPU-as-a-Service platform, UGM Indosat NVAITC will provide researchers and students at UGM with end-to-end AI capabilities—from enterprise-grade accelerated computing and AI software to pretrained models, development frameworks, technical mentorship, training, and industry collaboration. The center will also connect Indonesian researchers to a worldwide ecosystem of expertise, fostering international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the development of AI solutions with real-world impact.
Vikram Sinha, President Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said, “At Indosat, we believe no Indonesian should be left behind in the AI era. Through UGM Indosat NVAITC, we are bringing the best of global AI technologies and expertise to Indonesia, while expanding access for the ecosystem of researchers, students, startups, and innovators across the country. By strengthening AI readiness and empowering Indonesian talent, we aim to support the government's vision for AI and help position Indonesia not only as a user of AI technologies, but as a nation that develops and contributes AI innovations to the world.”
"Indonesia is home to an extraordinary community of researchers, developers, and innovators with the potential to shape the future of AI," Marc Hamilton, Vice President of Solutions Architecture and Engineering at NVIDIA, said. "From healthcare and agriculture to disaster preparedness, the opportunities for AI to drive real change are immense. Through UGM Indosat NVIDIA AI Technology Center, NVIDIA is committed to equipping Indonesian talent with the world’s leading open models and expertise to turn that potential into innovation with local and global impact."
Leveraging UGM's multidisciplinary research capabilities, local datasets, and pipeline of researchers and students, UGM Indosat NVAITC will serve as a research hub for developing applied AI solutions, initially focusing on strategic areas aligned with Indonesia's national priorities. Initial projects include eNose-TB, an AI-powered screening technology designed to support Indonesia's fight against tuberculosis; SmartAgri, which leverages multimodal AI, edge computing, and precision farming technologies to improve productivity and resilience in tropical agriculture; and Tech4Disaster, a geospatial AI platform that enhances disaster prediction, preparedness, and response capabilities.
Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, Ph.D., Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, added, "UGM is committed to supporting Indonesia's AI ambitions through education, research, and innovation that deliver real societal impact. Through UGM Indosat NVAITC, we are expanding access to advanced AI infrastructure and global expertise for students and researchers, while strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration in strategic areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and disaster resilience. This initiative supports national priorities in higher education, research downstreaming, and talent development by accelerating the adoption of AI and preparing future-ready Indonesian talent."
Dr. Dian Kesumapramudya Nurputra, M.Sc, Ph.D, SpA, lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine Public Health and Nursing, and lead researcher of the eNose-TB research team at UGM, said, "As researchers, we have always believed that technology developed in Indonesia can solve Indonesian challenges. Through the center, access to world-class AI infrastructure and expertise will help us accelerate our research and bring us closer to our dream of developing affordable and accessible healthcare technologies that can improve lives across Indonesia."
The launch of UGM Indosat NVAITC marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to advancing AI research, talent development, and innovation in Indonesia. Guided by the spirit of #LebihBaikIndosat, the center will continue to serve as a platform where Indonesian talent, global expertise, and local innovation come together to create a meaningful impact on society. This collaboration has progressed through several key milestones, beginning with its organization governance initiation in July 2025, followed by the signing of a Letter of Intent in early 2026, and culminating in the inauguration of UGM Indosat NVAITC on August 13, 2026.
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About Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat, IDX: ISAT) has the vision to become the most preferred digital telecommunications company in Indonesia. Together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, Indosat provides cellular services, ICT solutions, data centers, Fiber to the Home (FTTH), electronic payment services, financial services, and other digital services. Indosat has a larger purpose of empowering Indonesia, and with the spirit of Gotong Royong, Indosat wants to be the main collaborator in realizing it and creating meaningful change.
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