Google Cloud announced Thursday a series of artificial intelligence (AI)-focused initiatives designed to unlock further economic value for Indonesia, in alignment with the government’s Indonesia Emas 2045 vision.
The firm said in a statement that the initiatives focus on AI growth in startups and enterprises as well as AI skills development, and follows Google Cloud’s recent move to expand the computing capacity of its Jakarta cloud region.
The expansion will meet growing customer demand for cloud services, empowering more organizations in the country with access to cloud-based enterprise AI capabilities.
These new initiatives include cultivating a robust local AI startup ecosystem; infusing AI into key economic sectors to benefit Indonesians; expanding Indonesia’s AI-ready workforce.
The “Google for Startups Accelerator Southeast Asia: Indonesia, AI-Focused” program will be launched by Google Cloud in partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi).
It is aimed at nurturing Indonesia-headquartered startups that are building new products with generative AI (gen AI) or agentic AI as the core technology.
The goal is to cultivate 100 high-potential Indonesian AI startups over the next five years.
Selected startups will receive best-in-class resources to fast-track the development and commercialization of proprietary products using gen AI or agentic AI.
Applications are now open for the first cohort of 20 startups to join the inaugural equity-free, three-month program, commencing in September 2025.
“Research from Public First reveals that moving forward, if local startups and small businesses effectively apply Google Cloud platform services, including data analytics and AI, they could gain an estimated Rp 990 trillion ($61 billion) in economic value by 2030,
“Under Google’s Bangkit Bersama AI (Rise Together with AI) initiative, we’re therefore launching ‘Indonesia, AI-Focused’ in partnership with Komdigi, with the goal of cultivating 100 high-potential Indonesian AI startups over the next five years,” said Fanly Tanto, Country Director, Indonesia, Google Cloud.
Google Cloud will also launch the “Indonesia BerdAIa” program to help organizations build and deploy custom AI solutions that deliver measurable, real-world value in Indonesia’s key economic sectors.
The program will leverage Google Cloud’s fully integrated AI technology stack, and its AI experts and partner ecosystem, to help member organizations advance their missions.
The support can help member organizations create a tailored and actionable AI innovation roadmap; prioritize the right AI use cases; develop and deploy solutions to address these use cases; ensure they are implemented securely and responsibly, and measure the impact of these solutions.
15 prominent organizations, ranging from the country’s major banks to local heroes, have joined the program, representing industries such as financial services, telecommunications, retail, education, healthcare, manufacturing, media and entertainment, and public services.
The release also spotlights four member organizations, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Paragon Technology and Innovation, Fore Coffee, and Universitas Brawijaya, providing detailed insights into their solutions.
“Indonesia BerdAIa aims to create an AI-driven multiplier effect that benefits key industries, society, and the broader economy,
“By providing organizations with essential training and industry-leading AI platform and data management services, we can help foster an AI-ready workforce and accelerate organizations’ ability to deploy scalable generative AI (gen AI) and agentic AI solutions that are ‘grounded’ on trusted data sources,” said Tanto.
According to her, the firm is seeing strong interest in this program and already has plans to welcome and support more organizations beyond the initial 15.
Meanwhile, Google Cloud announced that Indonesian developers have completed more than 672,000 hands-on training labs (or labs) – an interactive learning experience where learners complete real-world tasks in the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) console – on JuaraGCP program.
“JuaraGCP” is an online self-study program offered by Google Cloud since 2019 for developers in Indonesia to gain practical skills in areas such as cloud computing, data analytics, AI, and cybersecurity.
Google Cloud plans to increase the number of completed labs on JuaraGCP to at least 800,000 by end-2026 through further engagements with Google Developer Groups across cities, regencies, and universities in Indonesia.
To further advance national upskilling in AI, Google Cloud has also launched a new gen AI certification for non-technical learners, complemented by training courses offered at no cost to help them prepare for this certification.
“The remarkable growth of the JuaraGCP developer community and their increasing AI focus reflects Indonesia’s strong drive to embrace and shape an AI-first digital future,
“Over the past five years, we’ve seen numerous developers like Anandia and Qassandra secure new job opportunities with the certifications they’ve acquired through JuaraGCP and Bangkit, skilling programs under our ‘Google Bangkit Bersama AI’ initiative,” said Veronica Utami, Country Director, Google Indonesia.
“Moving forward, by continuously enhancing these programs and adding newer ones that focus on teachers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), we’re doubling down on our commitment to empower Indonesians to build and use AI solutions that benefit local communities and contribute to global innovation,” she added.
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