Abstract
The AI revolution rests in large part on semiconductors, and demand continues to grow. Even as automation reshapes how chips are designed and made, skilled talent remains essential, and is becoming the limiting factor. Indonesia is among the countries now seeking to enter the global semiconductor ecosystem. With design and fabrication capacity still at an early stage, but one of the world’s largest and youngest populations to draw upon, the country is working to catch up and build the skilled workforce required. This session considers how international partnership can support that effort.
Drawing on the experience of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Indonesia, and its collaboration with a US university, Arizona State University (ASU), it describes how a broad STEM partnership grew into a more focused semiconductor workforce and curriculum agenda: industry-aligned microcredentials, an incubation and venture-pitch pathway, faculty exchange, and links to national industry, government, and the Indonesia Chip Design Collaborative Center (ICDEC). It also reflects on complementary cooperation with regional universities in Southeast and East Asia. The session considers what partners beyond Indonesia and other related STEM field may gain: regional engagement, research collaboration, and most importantly, a growing talent base.
Learning objectives
- Appreciate how an emerging economy such as Indonesia approaches entry into the global semiconductor ecosystem, and the workforce challenge of catching up.
- Consider how international and US university partners can gain research links, regional reach, and access to an emerging talent base through such collaboration.
- Reflect on how a host institution in developing countries like ITS can contribute meaningfully as a collaborator when program planning rests mainly with the international partner, offering local context, adaptation, and connection to its own networks.
- Explore how regional and cross-border ties, including with Southeast and East Asian universities, can sustain a shared talent pipeline.
Target audience
Program and curriculum leads, deans, and international officers interested in industry-aligned program design, semiconductor and STEM workforce development, microcredentials, and the gradual building of regional talent pipelines through international and North–South partnerships across the Asia-Pacific.