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THE IKN Nusantara Authority (OIKN) invited the University of Maryland from the United States to conduct policy research in the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara in East Kalimantan.
“IKN has an ambitious and optimistic vision for a Golden Indonesia in 2045. We are creating a legacy,” OIKN Deputy for Green and Digital Transformation Professor Mohammed Ali Berawi stated on Saturday.
His side invited representatives from Maryland University to conduct research in IKN, comprising research in the energy, food, and transportation cluster; social-humanities; environmental conservation; as well as technology and informatics.
The visit, which was received at the OIKN office in Jakarta, shows collaboration in the field of academic research while also confirming IKN as a living lab.
According to Berawi, this activity also aims to support the university in studying the development of a smart forest city at IKN, especially in the public policy sector, IKN’s principles and achievements in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), the Regionally and Locally Determined Contribution (RLDC), and IKN’s effort in maintaining biodiversity.
During the visit, Maryland University was represented by Research Professor and Head of Environment/Climate/Energy/Sustainability Focus, Professor Thomas Hilde; research assistants Grace Pettey and Matthew Regan, as well as 20 masters and doctoral postgraduate students from various study backgrounds.
On the occasion, Berawi shed light on the plans and developments for IKN, especially in smart cities, as well as the publication of the first Smart Building and Smart City Building Guidebook in the world.
Meanwhile, Professor Hilde stated that his side was open to any potential collaboration.
“We are very interested in this idea. There are not many examples of the concept of a smart forest city, especially in the development of capital cities. We are open to all potential collaborations and roles that we can fill in developing IKN Nusantara,” he remarked.
The University of Maryland School of Public Policy’s visit to OIKN office was one of the various collaboration initiatives between the authority and domestic and foreign universities.
As an urban living lab, IKN Nusantara invites the participation of universities and the research community to realize its vision as the most sustainable city in the world. [antaranews]
