Indonesia–Netherlands Universities Consortium on Sustainable Futures
INUCoST is a long-term partnership between the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities and five leading Indonesian universities:
- Universitas Indonesia (UI)
- Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)
- Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)
- Airlangga University (UNAIR)
- Mulawarman University (UNMUL).
Formed in October 2023, the consortium was established in close alignment with the Directorate General for Higher Education and Research of Indonesia, and is co-funded by the LDE Universities Alliance and Indonesia’s Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).
Together, we address key societal challenges through joint research, education, and community engagement in areas such as energy transition, digital technology, health, and heritage.
Focus Areas
Today’s global challenges—from the energy transition to inclusive digitalisation—require more than isolated efforts. They demand transnational academic cooperation, grounded in local context but geared toward global solutions. INUCoST provides the structure, support, and shared vision to meet that need.
INUCoST is guided by the overarching ambition of building Sustainable Futures, with a research agenda aligned to the Indonesian government’s priority areas:
- Energy Transition and Climate Change
- AI and Digital Technology
- Health and Wellbeing
- Heritage and Social Inclusion
These themes shape our multidisciplinary collaborations and societal impact.
Current projects focus on Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara (IKN), and explore themes such as smart city development, climate resilience, and biodiversity. A second research call is scheduled for 2025, which will broaden the scope to include new themes and additional partners.
Ongoing Research Projects (2024)
The first research call under INUCoST resulted in three collaborative projects focused on Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara (IKN):
- Smart Cities and Digital Inclusion
Towards Smart Cities and Smart Urbanism: A Study on Citizen Knowledge, Democratic Governance, and Inclusive Development in IKN and Its Surrounding Areas - Energy Transition
Towards Democratic, Just, Resilient, and Sustainable Energy Transition in New Capital of IKN and Its Surrounding Areas: Study on Smart Energy System to Support Clean, Democratic, and Just Energy Governance - Biodiversity and Cultural Landscapes
Local Biodiversity Conservation at IKN and its Buffer Zones based on High Conservation Value Areas Assessment and Spices Genetic Diversity Mapping: Biological & Sociocultural Approach
These projects are funded by LDE, LPDP, and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology of Indonesia.
Call for Expression of Interest: INUCoST Joint Research Programme
Researchers at the consortium partners in Indonesia and The Netherlands are invited to submit an Expression of Interest for the second round of INUCOST.
This initiative supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research between LDE universities and five Indonesian partner institutions. The programme focuses on addressing key societal challenges through academic cooperation and joint knowledge production.
Research themes:
– Public and mental health, (non-)communicable diseases
– Energy transition and energy justice
– Climate change adaptation and mitigation
– Artificial intelligence and digital technologies
What the programme offers:
– A framework for initiating or strengthening academic partnerships with Indonesian institutions
– Support for interdisciplinary research teams (1 LDE + 2 Indonesian institutions minimum)
– Matching funding and facilitation for proposal development
Key dates:
– EOI deadline: 2 July 2025
– Online matchmaking: 14 (Health) & 15 July (Resilient Society & AI)
– Research workshop: 21 August 2025
– Full proposal submission: 7 October 2025
Read more and join the matchmaking programme
