Bandung, August 8, 2025. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) is holding the 2025 Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI) from August 7-9, 2025, at Sasana Budaya Ganesa (Sabuga), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Bandung. KSTI 2025 is a strategic forum that brings together scientists, academics, industry players, policymakers, and international partners to formulate a national research and innovation roadmap. With the theme “Science and Technology for Economic Growth and Equity,“ the convention aims to accelerate Indonesia’s economic transformation towards a globally competitive knowledge-based economy, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision to achieve 8% economic growth in the next five years.
KSTI 2025 features a series of activities, including a technology innovation exhibition, cross-sectoral discussions, a research-industry policy forum, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings, plenary sessions with Nobel laureates, and panel discussions focusing on eight strategic sectors: energy, defense, digitalization (artificial intelligence and semiconductors), downstream and industrialization, health, food, maritime, and advanced materials and manufacturing. This event is designed to strengthen the “pentahelix” collaboration between the government, universities, industry, community, and media, to encourage the downstreaming of technology and innovation that has a direct impact on society. The research exhibition will showcase leading works from universities, research centers, and industries, accelerating technology diffusion into the production and service sectors.
The event features keynote speakers including the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, and international figures such as Nobel laureates in Physics Konstantin Novoselov and Brian Schmidt. Also in attendance are members of the Red and White Cabinet, such as the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, and Minister of Investment and Downstreaming Rosan Roeslani, as well as renowned physicist Lam Khin Yong from Nanyang Technology University. The presence of these stakeholders affirms the commitment to building a research ecosystem that supports economic independence, social sustainability, and technological innovation.
The event invited over 2,200 participants, including 401 rectors, 1,066 prominent Indonesian scientists, as well as 351 lecturers and 171 students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields. Of the 1,066 prominent Indonesian scientists invited, 58 were from Padjadjaran University, including Nuning Kurniasih, a lecturer in the Library and Information Science Study Program at the Faculty of Communication Sciences.
According to Nuning Kurniasih, as a scientist in the field of Library and Information Science, her research can support the national research roadmap, especially in the field of digitalization, ensuring an inclusive social impact, and supporting the KSTI 2025 vision to create an innovation ecosystem oriented towards economic growth and social sustainability. Some of these contributions include:
- Development of Digital Library Infrastructure and Knowledge Repositories. Library and Information Science scientists can develop and advance digital library platforms to digitize collections of ancient manuscripts, research documents, and cultural data. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology, Library and Information Science experts can improve semantic search capabilities, metadata management, and information accessibility. Open repositories will also support cross-disciplinary collaboration and ensure inclusive access to knowledge, which aligns with KSTI’s goal of accelerating technology downstreaming.
- Improving Digital Literacy through Community-Based Programs. Social science fields, including Library and Information Science, can promote digital literacy programs. The program can be designed to train people in disadvantaged areas to use digital technology, such as e-learning platforms or AI-based applications for information access. This contribution supports economic equity by increasing the digital capacity of the community, in line with the KSTI 2025 theme, “Science and Technology for Economic Growth and Equity.”
- Optimizing Big Data Management for Research and Policy. Library and Information Science experts can develop big data management systems to support data-driven policymaking. By leveraging data analytics and AI technology, Library and Information Science experts can also create dashboards or data visualization tools that help KSTI stakeholders, such as the government and industry, map digital innovation trends, such as analyzing data from national research repositories to identify technology needs in KSTI priority sectors like artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
- Strengthening Cultural Resilience through the Digitization of Information Heritage. Social science experts, particularly in Library and Information Science, can contribute by digitizing Indonesia’s cultural heritage, such as ancient manuscripts or oral traditions, to preserve national identity in the digital era. This project can involve natural language processing (NLP) technology to translate or archive multilingual texts. This initiative supports KSTI’s goal of building an inclusive and sustainable innovation ecosystem by strengthening cultural literacy amid digital transformation.
- Building Digital Human Resource Capacity through Training and Curriculum. Social science fields, especially Library and Information Science, can design training curricula to produce competent digital talent in information management, such as data scientists or information specialists. Collaboration with universities and industries can create internship or certification programs that support the workforce needs in the digital sector, as emphasized in KSTI’s focus on digitalization. This initiative can also involve AI ethics training to ensure digital technology is used responsibly.
- Community Empowerment through Digital Collaborative Platforms. Social science experts, particularly in Library and Information Science, can develop community-based digital platforms to encourage public participation in innovation. For example, a crowdsourcing platform to collect social data or innovation ideas from the public can be integrated with the KSTI agenda. This platform can utilize blockchain technology for transparency or AI for sentiment analysis, thereby strengthening public engagement in supporting the national research map.
In closing, Nuning stated that the contribution of Library and Information Science is crucial in supporting the national research roadmap, especially in the field of digitalization. Digital libraries play a role in providing inclusive access to knowledge resources through the digitization of ancient manuscripts, online databases, and collaborative platforms. Referring to the 2024 Indonesian Digital Library Conference (KPDI), the adoption of artificial intelligence in library information management strengthens digital literacy and cultural resilience, supporting the production of digital talent that aligns with the KSTI 2025 digitalization focus. Initiatives such as the Community Literacy Volunteers (Relima) program and Thematic Literacy Community Service also expand access to information, encourage knowledge-based innovation, and accelerate digital transformation in society.
Author: Nuning Kurniasih, Lecturer from Library and Information Science Study Program
