UK-Indonesia Tech Hub x 1000 Digital Startup National Movement Driving Digital Excellence in Indonesia

The British Embassy Jakarta, through the UK-Indonesia Tech Hub, in partnership with the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (KomInfo) and Instellar, launched the Digital Hub programme: UK-Indonesia Tech Hub x 1000 Digital Startup National Movement on 2 April 2024. The programme aims to provide capacity building and support to 60 tech start-ups and 1000 digital talents.

This collaborative programme consists of two main initiatives: the Hatch x PEDE Incubation Programme (Powering Entrepreneurs for Digital Excellence), aimed at supporting tech startups in Indonesia to become sustainable businesses; and the Digital Talents Development programme, focusing on enhancing digital skills among digital talents. The incubation programme will take place in Surabaya and Bali, starting in April and lasting until December. 

The launch event featured a panel discussion titled “From Seed to Scale: Thriving Green Tech Ecosystem with Digital Excellence for Impactful and Sustainable Growth” led by Rachmalia Nikijuluw with experts including Adisti Chandra, COO Instellar; Kristin Harahap, CEO AgriDesa; Darina Maulana, Programme Lead at Enviu Indonesia; and others from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics. The discussion underscored the importance of a collaborative approach to overcoming geographical and societal barriers to digital access, thus ensuring a more inclusive digital society.

Despite significant progress, Indonesia’s startup ecosystem is not yet fully mature. Most startups do not advance beyond the early stage of development and face challenges of sustainability and scalability. This collaboration is expected to address those challenges. Through Hatch x PEDE Incubation, selected digital innovators will undergo intensive capacity-building support and guidance from industry mentors and experts over a three-month period with the aim of developing innovative products and/or services. Selected startups will participate in a series of workshops covering business strategy development, product development, market access, and mentoring sessions with experts in their field. These will provide startups with the knowledge, networks, and credibility they need to attract investment and succeed.

The Digital Talents Development programme will also help to address the shortage of digital talent through a series of learning activities focused on the latest technology trends, opportunities for digital skill development, and job opportunities in Surabaya and Bali.

British Charge d’Affaires Matthew Downing, said “As digital transformation continues to touch all our lives, tech or digital hubs in Indonesia are becoming increasingly important in supporting business growth and innovation. The UK is recognised as a world lead for its start-up hubs, established in 13 cities so far across the country, with London a critical node for the UK tech ecosystem. Inspired by this growth, we encourage Indonesia to develop a similar vision. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and Indonesia this year, we are thrilled to collaborate with the Ministry of Communication and Informatics in building an ecosystem that supports digital businesses and talents in Indonesia, including through the UK-Indonesia Tech Hub x 1000 Digital Startup National Movement.”

Ministry of Communication and Informatics of Indonesia Nezar Patria, said “The global environmentally friendly and sustainable technology market is projected to reach 62 billion USD in 2030 and the total investment in global energy transition amounts to 1.78 trillion USD in 2023. Digitalization also has the potential to play a crucial role in global decarbonization efforts by reducing CO2 emissions by 35% in the next decade. The significant potential of Green Tech is accompanied by several challenges that need to be anticipated, such as financial challenges, economic and social inequalities, and a lack of regulation in technology development resulting in uncertainty in Green Tech advancement. I hope that this initiative can encourage the transfer of technology and knowledge between global and Indonesian business players. Secondly, this initiative should foster various innovations in addressing climate crises in accordance with local contexts. Lastly, I hope there will be more initiatives and similar collaborations in the future focused on solving social issues.”

CEO of Instellar Romy Cahyadi, said “We intend this collaboration to facilitate the growth of a dynamic and inclusive digital ecosystem in Surabaya, Bali, and the surrounding areas. We believe that collaboration among various stakeholders will be a key driver for innovation and progress in the Indonesian digital industry.”