In the Industry 4.0 era, the Indonesian government, academics, and industries are undertaking efforts to accelerate digital transformation. One of these efforts includes adopting robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

The industrial design is outlined in Making Indonesia 4.0, serving as a roadmap for Indonesia's acceleration into the Industry 4.0 era. “The Industry Ministry has initiated the industrialization 4.0 program, with one of its focuses being the development of human resources (HR) skilled in robotics. This is crucial to creating a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of future industries,” said Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in Jakarta on Tuesday (July 16, 2024).

Making Indonesia 4.0 is a roadmap designed to guide Indonesia's industrial transformation toward the digital and automation era. Launched by President Joko Widodo in 2018, the roadmap includes various strategies to enhance productivity, efficiency, and innovation across different industrial sectors.

One of the main focuses of Making Indonesia 4.0 is the development of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies. These two technologies are considered key pillars in driving the fourth industrial revolution, which is characterized by the integration of digital, physical, and biological technologies.

PIDI 4.0 Target

To accelerate the transformation of Industry 4.0, particularly in the manufacturing sector, the Industry Ministry initiated the establishment of the Indonesia Digital Industry Center 4.0 (PIDI 4.0). PIDI 4.0 aims to serve as a one-stop solution for implementing Industry 4.0 in Indonesia and as a showcase for Indonesia 4.0 to the world.

PIDI 4.0 is a hub for innovation and the development of digital technology in Indonesia. This center aims to promote the adoption of digital technologies, including robotics and AI, within the national industrial sector. “PIDI 4.0 is one of the government's concrete steps in developing the Industry 4.0 ecosystem in Indonesia. With this center, it is expected that the adoption of digital technologies in the industrial sector will accelerate, which in turn will enhance the competitiveness of national industries,” said Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang.

There are five main service pillars in PIDI 4.0, namely the Ecosystem for Industry 4.0, showcase center, capability center, delivery center, and engineering and AI center. PIDI 4.0 organizes various programs and initiatives to support the development of robotics and AI technologies in Indonesia. Some of its flagship programs include:

1. Training and Education: PIDI 4.0 provides various training and educational programs to enhance the workforce's skills in digital technologies, including robotics and AI.
2. Industry Collaboration: The center collaborates with various technology companies and industries to develop innovative solutions and accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
3. Startup Incubation and Acceleration: PIDI 4.0 also acts as an incubator and accelerator for technology startups, offering support and resources needed to develop digital technology-based products and services.

Competency Development

At the opening of the Robotic Symposium 2.0 PIDI 4.0 in Jakarta on Tuesday (Jul. 16), Masrokhan, Head of the Industrial Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDMI), announced that the Industry Ministry is now implementing a 4.0-based curriculum for its affiliated educational units. The curriculum has been updated to align with industry needs and current developments.

One of the implementations is the teaching of industrial automation and robotics in the automotive sector within vocational high schools (SMK), as well as in polytechnics and community academies (AK) under the Industry Ministry related to mechatronics. Several educational units of the Industry Ministry have also established partnerships with industries to implement robotics competency development. Several robotics teams have successfully won awards at both national and international competitions.

For example, vocational schools under the Industry Ministry have collaborated with Axioo to establish the BPSDMI (Industrial Human Resources Development Agency) Axioo Robotic Academy for robotics training, located at SMK SMTI (Industrial Technology High School) Padang and SMK SMTI Makassar as training centers, particularly for teachers and instructors. Additionally, two vocational schools specializing in mechatronics, SMK SMTI Yogyakarta and SMK SMTI Makassar, have successfully developed operational programming for 1 ARM Robot as a teaching tool.

In addition, higher education institutions under the Industry Ministry have won several national robotics competitions this year. For instance, Bantaeng Community Academy (AK Bantaeng) won third place at the Indonesian Robotics Contest organized by the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry at Muhammadiyah University of Solo.

“This is the most prestigious national robotics competition, and AK Bantaeng is the only community academy in Indonesia to win this contest,” said Masrokhan.

Furthermore, in the National Robotics Contest for the MPR (People's Consultative Assembly) Speaker’s Cup, AK Bantaeng and Polytechnic APP won several competition categories. Polytechnic APP also claimed first place in the Line Follower category at the Robotics Contest held by Gadjah Mada University. Additionally, Polytechnic ATI Makassar secured first place in the Line Follower category at an international robotics contest in Malaysia hosted by Multimedia University Malaysia in January 2024.

Robotics and AI Benefits

According to the Industry Minister, the development of robotics and AI-based technology has various benefits for the national industry, including:

1. Increased Productivity: Automating production processes using robots and AI can enhance efficiency and productivity, reduce human errors, and speed up production times.
2. Product Innovation: AI technology enables companies to develop more intelligent and more connected products and services, increasing competitiveness in the global market.
3. Cost Savings: Companies can lower operational costs and improve profit margins by automating various processes.
4. Safety and Security: Robotics and AI can enhance safety and security in the workplace, reducing the risk of injuries and accidents.

With the Making Indonesia 4.0 roadmap and the support of PIDI 4.0, Indonesia is on the right path to becoming a leader in the Industry 4.0 era. The government and industrial sectors are expected to continue collaborating to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies, robotics, and AI and ensure that the workforce possesses the necessary skills to adapt to these changes.

“Indonesia has significant potential to become a major player in the Industry 4.0 era. With the right policy support and collaboration between the government, industry, and academia, we can create an innovative ecosystem that drives economic growth and societal well-being,” added Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

With the various initiatives and programs run by PIDI 4.0, it is hoped that the national industry will transform towards the digital era, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to sustainable economic growth. The adoption of these technologies is expected to bring economic benefits, create new job opportunities, and improve the quality of life for the Indonesian people.

Translator: Wisnu Wardoyo