EduAsiaNews, Jakarta— Increasingly complex global economic challenges require Indonesia to strengthen industrial competitiveness through innovation, technological advancement, and collaboration among the government, business sector, and higher education institutions. This was one of the key messages delivered at the SBM ITB Industrial Summit 2026, organized by the School of Business and Management Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB) in collaboration with the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, at AYANA Midplaza Jakarta on August 19–20, 2026.
With a focus on bringing together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and the innovation community, Industrial Summit 2026 served as a forum for dialogue on the future of Indonesia’s industrial competitiveness amid technological transformation and global economic dynamics.
The event was opened by ITB Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Prof. Ir. Lavi Rizki Zuhal, Ph.D., who emphasized the important role of higher education institutions in developing the thinking and leadership needed to address future economic and industrial challenges.
According to him, universities can no longer function solely as educational institutions but must also become part of an ecosystem that generates knowledge, innovation, and solutions to real-world challenges faced by society and industry.
A global perspective was subsequently presented by Prof. Wendy, Dean of the University of Glasgow, who highlighted the importance of international academic relations in addressing increasingly interconnected economic challenges.
The collaboration between Indonesia and the United Kingdom, particularly through the partnership between SBM ITB and the University of Glasgow, represents an example of how higher education institutions can build bridges of knowledge and bring together perspectives from different economic contexts.
On the occasion, Dr. Xiang Li, Director of Internationalization at the University of Glasgow, also delivered remarks and emphasized the importance of internationalization in strengthening academic networks and creating broader opportunities for collaboration.
The participation of the University of Glasgow in Industrial Summit 2026 further strengthened the forum’s international dimension. The collaboration formed part of an effort to bring together academic excellence, global perspectives, and Indonesia’s economic development needs.
Airlangga: Industrial Competitiveness Must Be Driven by Innovation and Technology
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. (H.C.) Airlangga Hartarto, delivered a Ministerial Keynote highlighting economic transformation and strengthening industrial competitiveness as important priorities for Indonesia’s future.
In his presentation, Airlangga highlighted the rapidly changing global economic environment. Technological developments, shifts in global supply chains, and increasing competition among countries require Indonesia to continuously improve productivity and competitiveness.
Such transformation cannot be achieved solely through the development of physical infrastructure. It also requires stronger human resource capacity, innovation, technology, and the ability of industries to create added value.
Indonesia, he continued, needs to ensure that economic transformation generates broad-based benefits by strengthening the links between government policies, industry, and educational institutions.
This message is increasingly relevant amid technological developments that are transforming the ways companies operate, innovate, and create value. Technological capabilities and adaptability are essential factors in ensuring that Indonesian industries do not merely serve as markets but can also become active contributors to value creation within the global economy.
Bridging Academia, Government, and Industry
Industrial Summit 2026 was designed as a platform to bring these various perspectives together. The forum brought regulators, industry leaders, academics, and innovators together to discuss strategic issues that will shape the future direction of Indonesia’s economy and industry.
The event also formed part of a series of activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, while further strengthening the academic relationship between SBM ITB and the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow.
Economic transformation requires more than policies or technology alone. It requires an ecosystem that enables government, industry, and academia to learn and innovate together. This principle was reflected in the organization of the forum.
For SBM ITB, the forum is aligned with its commitment to strengthening the role of business schools as a bridge connecting knowledge, business, government, and society.
Industrial Summit 2026 is expected to generate exchanges of ideas and collaborations that strengthen Indonesia’s capacity to navigate global economic changes while promoting innovative and sustainable growth.
In addition to the Industrial Summit, the series of activities also coincided with The 10th International Conference on Management in Emerging Markets (ICMEM), themed “Reimagining Global Markets: Embracing Humanities for Sustainable Business.”
Through these two forums, SBM ITB reaffirmed its role as a meeting point for academic thought, public policy, and business practice in shaping a more innovative, adaptive, and competitive economic future.
