Startups in the Garuda Spark ecosystem have attracted more than Rp429.5 billion in direct investment over about 10 months since the government introduced the program, the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) said.

Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, Director General of Digital Ecosystem at Komdigi, said the investment was about four times the key performance indicator (KPI) set by Komdigi for the Directorate General of Digital Ecosystem.

"Startups in this ecosystem have also attracted direct investment worth more than Rp429.5 billion, or four times more than the KPI determined by Komdigi for us," Edwin said during the inauguration of the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub in BSD City on Wednesday (26/8).

Garuda Spark Reaches 15,700 Digital Talents Through 178 Programs

Edwin said the investment figure is one indicator of confidence in the quality of innovation and the digital ecosystem developed through Garuda Spark.

"Investment is not the only measure of success, but the figure shows confidence in the quality of innovation and the ecosystem that we are building together," he said.

Garuda Spark has also conducted 178 programs with its partners. The programs have reached more than 15,700 digital talents, involved 80 partners and supported 80 startups.

Edwin said the success of digital ecosystem development should not be measured only by the number of activities held or certificates distributed.

According to Edwin, programs should create economic impact, open jobs and encourage innovation that can address real problems.

"Programs do not stop when activities end or certificates are distributed; there must be a growing economy, jobs being created, and real problems beginning to be solved," Edwin said.

Garuda Spark was established to provide broader access to technology knowledge, talent, networks, capital and markets. Komdigi wants innovation opportunities to reach beyond a limited group of people and major cities.

Edwin said the investment achievement is also related to efforts to rebuild trust in Indonesia's digital ecosystem. He said trust cannot be built only through slogans or ceremonies, but requires good governance, transparency, accountability and evidence that innovation provides benefits.

"Trust within the ecosystem is the real bandwidth," Edwin said.

Garuda Spark Innovation Hub Connects 10 Cities

Garuda Spark is currently present in 10 cities and 60 spokes: Jakarta, Batam, Medan, Bandung, Malang, Makassar, Papua, Yogyakarta, Aceh and Surabaya. (detikinet)

The spokes serve as regional ecosystem points connected to hubs, allowing local talent, startups and innovation to enter the national network.

Separately, Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub connects talent, startups, academics, and central and local governments in a shared workspace to accelerate national digital transformation.

"We created Garuda Spark to form one shared workspace for all these elements. Because to strengthen our capacity for digital transformation, all these elements must sit together in one shared space," Meutya said.

Through the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, Komdigi seeks to provide regional talent and startups with access to the technology ecosystem, investors, industry and wider markets.

Meutya also said the connectivity created through the initiative should be translated into economic growth. The Garuda Spark Innovation Hub is expected to contribute to the government's 8% economic growth target and reduce the Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR) from 6 to 4.8.

"Therefore, from the 10 points we are launching today, we hope to encourage 8% economic growth in line with the government's target and reduce ICOR," Meutya said.

The Garuda Spark Innovation Hub uses a Hub and Spoke model. Ten hubs are located in Jakarta, Batam, Medan, Bandung, Malang, Makassar, Papua, Yogyakarta, Aceh and Surabaya.

Komdigi Targets 20 Hubs and 500 Spokes

Komdigi plans to expand Garuda Spark to 20 hubs and 500 spokes within two years to strengthen the foundation of the startup and digital talent ecosystem across Indonesia.

Meutya said the ultimate goal of the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub is to build Indonesia's independence in digital transformation by encouraging more innovations to emerge domestically.

"We want a balance between technology products from abroad and innovations that are born domestically," she said.

The Garuda Spark Innovation Hub is also directed to become a two-way global gateway. Through the network, Indonesian innovation is expected to enter international markets, while global investment, technology and networks can enter Indonesia through stronger and more equal partnerships.

"Our competitiveness becomes equal at the global level, our startups are valued at the global level, and our talents are equal and at the same level as talents abroad," Meutya said.

The Garuda Spark Innovation Hub carries the principle "Locally Adapted, Nationally Coordinated, Globally Connected." This means regional potential is developed according to local needs and characteristics, strengthened through national coordination and networks, and then expanded toward global markets and ecosystems.

This article is a summary of two original articles. The full versions can be read at the following links:

https://inet.detik.com/law-and-policy/d-8635661/80-startup-garuda-spark-tarik-investasi-rp-429-5-m-dalam-10-bulan/amp

https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5711396/garuda-spark-innovation-hub-diluncurkan-guna-kembangkan-inovasi-daerah

PHOTO: MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION AND DIGITAL AFFAIRS

This article was created with AI assistance.

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