Indonesia, Sweden a Perfect Match for Digital Transformation: Swedish Minister
Jakarta. When it comes to digital transformation, Indonesia and Sweden are a perfect match, Swedish Minister of Infrastructure Anna Johansson said on Tuesday (23/05).
"I believe our countries will benefit greatly from a deeper cooperation and by taking full advantage of [Sweden’s] experiences and expertise [...] there is a perfect match between Sweden's information and communications technology [or ICT] sector and Indonesia's increasing demand for digital transformation," Johansson said.
Speaking at an Ericsson Smartnovation Indonesia Hackathon competition at Pullman Hotel in Jakarta, Johansson spoke about the importance of digitalization to the Swedish government.
"The Swedish government has put a top priority on digitalization – in particular digitalization of industries, and we have launched a number of policies to speed up development," Johansson said, adding that Sweden has worked to create a foundation to accommodate the recent rapid changes in development and technology.
Many Swedish companies are leaders in their respective fields, especially in innovation. Digital startups such as Spotify and Skype are among the most well-known today, whereas older companies such as Tetra Pak and Ericsson have pioneered their fields and managed to sustain their businesses in a constantly changing environment.
According to Johansson, Sweden has firsthand experience on how innovation can change growth dynamics. She said that the country was among the poorest nations in Europe just a century ago, and has transformed itself, standing among the world leaders in innovation today.
Johansson went on to describe that Sweden's success in innovation has resulted in a greater cooperation between academics and those in the public and private sectors. The model is commonly referred to as the "triple helix."
"Our long tradition of cooperation between academia, public and private sector has been beneficial to our innovative capacity. By working together to meet societal challenges, new innovative solutions can be developed," Johansson said.
The minister is in Indonesia to accompany King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, who are visiting Indonesia on their first state visit from Monday to Wednesday. The Swedish delegation also includes State Secretary Pernilla Baralt and 35 Swedish business leaders.
Ericsson’s Anniversary
The competition on Tuesday is part of a series of events organized by Ericsson to celebrate their 110th anniversary, which includes the first 5G demo in Indonesia earlier in April.
According to Ericsson Indonesia president director, Thomas Jul, the company believes that fostering talents in ICT is fundamental for Ericsson to continue contributing to the development in Indonesia.
"We are committed to continue to bring the latest technologies in Indonesia so we can help citizens of this vast country achieve their full potential," Jul said during the Hackathon event.
The Swedish telecommunication company employs more than 1,500 people in Indonesia, with a majority comprising of local talent.
On Tuesday, Jul announced that Ericsson will sponsor an award to honor the best female students in ICT, as part of the company’s effort to encourage more Indonesian women to pursue careers in ICT.
Sixty students from the Bandung Institute of Technology, University of Indonesia, Binus University and Telkom University Bandung took part in the Ericsson Smartnovation Indonesia Hackathon competition.
The students were challenged to offer digital solutions to develop a smart city in Indonesia, particularly to tackle the issue of congestion in Jakarta.
Five students from ITB, whose solutions focused on improving public transportation, were selected as winners of the competition.
During the event, the government of Indonesia awarded Ericsson with a lifetime achievement award for its contribution and services to the country.
The event was also attended by the Swedish delegation, led by King Gustaf.
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