Digital talent development is vital to support the success of priority programs initiated by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

There are several priority programs, including the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, food self-sufficiency, energy self-sufficiency, and industrial downstreaming. This also includes bureaucratic reform through digitalization and a national data integration system.

According to The Future of Jobs Report 2025, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the rapid development of digital transformation is expected to create 149 million new jobs in the digital sector by 2025.

At least five digital fields are experiencing rapid growth: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Networks, Cyber Security, and Technology Literacy. These fields require essential skills, including creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, agility, curiosity, and lifelong learning.

To anticipate this and address the digital talent gap in Indonesia, the Indonesian Communications and Digital Affairs Ministry (MCDA) aims to produce 100,000 high-quality digital talents this year through the Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) program. MCDA’s Human Resource Development Agency (BPSDM) has continuously implemented this program since 2018.

Within its first 100 days as part of the Merah Putih Cabinet (Red and White Cabinet), the Indonesian Communications and Digital Affairs Ministry has successfully produced 10,000 digital talents to meet industry demands in line with the acceleration of national digital transformation.

Vice Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs, Angga Raka Prabowo, underscored that accelerating the development of digital talent is also aimed at ensuring the future prosperity of the Indonesian people.

“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), in three months, we have been able to produce another 10,000. This is a number, but we are not only chasing quantity; we are also focusing on quality,” said Angga Raka Prabowo at the Digital Talent Center in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Friday, Jan. 24.

He stated that digital talents drive technological advancements, which can be developed to support the success of government priority programs and enhance the people's economy.

Two examples are using AI to measure energy needs and developing business registration applications for industrial downstreaming based on natural resources or MSMEs. This includes implementing the SATUSEHAT Mobile application, the INAPORTNET port services application, and hundreds of startups, websites, and e-commerce platforms offering products and services from Indonesians.

Meeting the demand for digital talent is also crucial. The ministry’s Human Resource Development Agency stated that Indonesia will need 9 million digital talents by 2030. Unfortunately, the supply from formal education, such as higher education, can only provide around 6 million digital talents.

Hence, it is important to accelerate the growth of digital talent in Indonesia through other mechanisms, including various collaborations with stakeholders such as the government, industry, and even community groups.

Therefore, the Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) program is being prepared again in 2025 to produce 100,000 digital talents from the seven existing academies, including Thematic Academy (TA), Digital Entrepreneurship Academy (DEA), Fresh Graduate Academy (FGA), and Talent Scout Academy (TSA).

There are also the Vocational School Graduate Academy (VSGA), Government Transformation Academy (GTA), and Professional Academy (PROA). The subjects taught range from Artificial Intelligence, cyber security, cloud computing, and coding to coding.

Since its launching from 2018 to 2024, the DTS program has produced 1 million new digital talents. During the same period, the National Digital Literacy Movement (GNLD) participants reached over 24 million.

Along with DTS 2025, the ministry is partnering with several key stakeholders, especially technology companies such as Microsoft, CISCO, Google, Indosat, Alibaba, and Amazon Web Services, to ensure that the training provided aligns with industry needs.

In addition to providing training, the ministry and its partners initiate digital talent absorption activities, including boot camps, internship opportunities, and job fairs.

“Partnering with various stakeholders is very important, both with the central government, local governments, various digital technology companies, and universities,” Vice Minister Angga added.

This year, the ministry will conduct the Indonesian Digital Society Index (IMDI) survey to assess the condition of its adoption of digital technology in daily life.

“We will focus on regencies and cities. If the IMDI findings show a certain area is still lacking or not good enough, we will concentrate on developing digital human resources there. We will conduct surveys on four pillars: infrastructure readiness (digital), digital skills, digital industry, and digital literacy," said the Acting Head of the Human Resource Development Agency, Hary Budiarto.

The digital talent development program is also the government's effort to support the achievement of the national economic growth target of up to 8 percent. Digital transformation in several sectors has proven to strengthen competitiveness, improve business efficiency, and accelerate national economic growth.

Writer: Kristantyo Wisnubroto

Editors: Taofiq Rauf, Filmon Leonard Warouw

Translator: Wisnu Wardoyo