The NL Knowledge House Work Mission took place from 18 to 20 June 2024 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event welcomed the participation of 11 representatives from 10 institutions, including newcomers Greonpact and Has Green Academy. This mission is part of the ongoing efforts of the NL Knowledge House to foster partnerships between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

Event Highlights

Day 1: Business and Housekeeping

The first day was dedicated to business discussions and administrative matters of the NL Knowledge House. Hosted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Research (OCW) of the Netherlands, Ms. Yvonne Klerks, the Education and Science Attaché, welcomed participants at the Dutch Embassy in Indonesia. She outlined the OCW’s role in education and expressed their support for the NL Knowledge House’s collaborations with Indonesian institutions. Participants were particularly intrigued by BRIN’s research initiatives and permits, spurred by Yvonne’s insights.

Mr. Marrik Bellen from KTLV’s Leiden represented the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus (LDE) consortium as a model for potential organisational structures that the NL Knowledge House could emulate. Inspired by LDE’s impactful network, members envisioned similar collaborations with Indonesian partners.

The day also featured the third members’ meeting of the year, co-chaired by Evi Eliyanah of Universitas Negeri Malang and Mervin Bakker from the University of Groningen. This meeting provided a platform for discussing the progress of the Netherlands–Indonesia Partnership for Research and Applied Sciences (NIPRAS). Members were invited to share their insights and suggestions to refine and enhance the proposal. The discussion aimed at identifying key areas of improvement and aligning the partnership’s goals with the needs of both Dutch and Indonesian research and applied sciences communities. From this discussion, the meeting ensured that the NIPRAS initiative would be robust, inclusive, and geared towards impactful outcomes.

Day 2: Matchmaking and Institutional Visits

The centrepiece of the mission, the matchmaking event, took place at Artotel Gelora Senayan, Jakarta. Over 80 representatives from Indonesian universities participated, seeking to forge collaborations in curriculum development, student and faculty exchange programs, and innovative, sustainable initiatives. These interactions facilitated new partnerships and a deeper understanding of international cooperation.

Following the matchmaking, both Indonesian and Dutch knowledge institutions witnessed the launch of the living lab and explored avenues of collaboration in the living lab initiative on Renewable Energy Transition and Climate Change Mitigation. Some of the participants would also join the Living Lab Site visit on the following day. The NL Knowledge House members also met with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to discuss research capacity development and the BRIN-LPDP ‘National Strategic’ Scholarship Programme. The day concluded with a visit to the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education Indonesia (Kemdikbudristek), marking a formal introduction of the NL Knowledge House and exploring areas for collaboration.

Day 3: Living Lab Site Visit and Networking

The final day was the most exciting, featuring a visit to the WhatIf Lab: Sustainable Public Spaces. This living lab business case, developed by The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Saxion University of Applied Sciences, is located at Kampung Susun Kunir. The project revolves around the concept of creating sustainable public spaces in Indonesia. Participants engaged in discussions about the living space and the Ruzak Plaza concept, envisioning tangible steps toward a sustainable future for Indonesian kampungs.

To conclude the mission, Adriaan Palm, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN, hosted a networking reception. This event facilitated interactions between the Dutch Research Council, ten universities, and universities of applied sciences, highlighting the mission’s success in fostering connections and promoting collaboration.

The NL Knowledge House Work Mission in Jakarta exemplifies the Netherlands’ commitment to strengthening educational and research partnerships with Indonesia. Through diverse activities such as matchmaking events, institutional visits, and living lab visit, the mission showcased the potential for innovative and sustainable collaborations. The engagement and