About the LDE Indonesia Centre

The LDE Indonesia Centre represents the joint commitment of Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, and Erasmus University Rotterdam to foster impactful academic collaboration with Indonesia. Our presence in Indonesia began with the organization of two consecutive BRIN-LDE Academies in 2022 and 2023, in partnership with the Indonesian Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN). These academies provided a platform for international and multidisciplinary collaboration, focusing on strengthening academic capacity among PhD candidates and early-career researchers.

The academies explored urbanization in Indonesia through interdisciplinary lenses, addressing key societal themes such as Health, AI and the Digital Economy, Climate Governance, and Heritage. 

This initiative led to tangible outcomes, including joint research projects, scholarly publications, and the creation of a PhD position—underscoring the value of global academic exchange.

Building on this successful foundation, the LDE Centre Indonesia formalized a strategic partnership with five of Indonesia’s leading universities—Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Airlangga University (UNAIR), and Mulawarman University (UNMUL). In October 2023, this collaboration was officially established as INUCoST (Indonesia–Netherlands Universities Consortium on Sustainable Futures), focusing on priority areas identified by Indonesia’s Directorate General for Higher Education and Research.

INUCoST is a platform for long-term collaboration between the LDE universities and their Indonesian counterparts, built on shared academic strengths and complementary expertise. The consortium engages in joint research, education, and community empowerment initiatives. These efforts are co-funded by the LDE Universities Alliance and Indonesia’s Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), through the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology.

Together, we aim to address global and local challenges through interdisciplinary and transnational cooperation, contributing to sustainable development and academic innovation.