Indonesian Students Shine with AI Wins as Deputy Minister Courts India Tech Giants

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Wamenkomdigi) Nezar Patria is actively pushing for global collaborations in cutting-edge technologies, particularly semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) in India. This strategic move aims to solidify Indonesia’s role in the worldwide digital supply chain.

At the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, India, from February 18-20, attended by top Indian industry leaders including Tata Group and Tyrone (Netweb Technologies), Nezar specifically explored opportunities for semiconductor industry partnerships. He highlighted Indonesia’s vast reserves of critical minerals, such as silica sand, a key ingredient in chipset and semiconductor production.

“Indonesia is committed to downstreaming its critical minerals. With abundant silica sand resources across the country, we have huge potential to turn them into high-value products. Partnering with global industry leaders is a crucial step to build a robust, competitive national semiconductor ecosystem,” Nezar Patria said in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.

Tata Group, via its Tata Electronics arm, is currently building India’s first semiconductor assembly and testing facility, while Tyrone is renowned for its AI-based server innovations. These synergies between Indonesia and such firms are expected to enable technology transfers and high-quality human resource development in advanced tech manufacturing.

Beyond partnership talks, Nezar took time to discuss and praise a delegation of top Indonesian students who won prestigious awards at the Intel Global Competition. These young innovators showcased exceptional skills with AI-driven solutions tackling national challenges.

The spotlight fell on two standout projects: Agrify, a web-based AI platform developed by Muh. Salman A Farisi and Muh. Sultan Narulloh Telaumbanua. It uses computer vision through its Plant Doctor feature for instant plant disease diagnosis and offers a Smart Farming Schedule that optimizes planting based on weather and market analysis, ultimately boosting productivity and livelihoods for smallholder farmers.

The second, SITANGGAP – Rapid Stroke Symptom Capture System, created by Andre Nugraha and Nurissa’idah. This AI solution enables early stroke detection by analyzing facial expressions and voice patterns via camera and microphone, aligned with international NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) medical standards. It aims to speed up public responses to stroke symptoms and support UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

“These outstanding achievements by our students on the global stage prove that Indonesia’s digital talent is world-class and capable of delivering practical solutions for society,” the Deputy Minister stated.

The government remains committed to nurturing an innovation ecosystem so inspirational projects like Agrify and SITANGGAP can scale up and create broader impact.

During the summit, Nezar also toured showcases and held talks with executives from leading global tech firms, including Qualcomm, Intel, Salesforce, and Meta. Discussions covered the latest AI advancements, AI’s role in enhancing public services, and building adaptive, sustainable digital infrastructure for the future.

Indonesianpost.com | Antara