In line with President Jokowi’s vision, the AMANAH Innovation Center is a pillar of regional technological progress
By: Muhammad Haris Azali
The Aneuk Muda Aceh Excellent and Great (AMANAH) program, a strategic initiative of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), continues to play a vital role in driving regional technological progress.
In line with President Jokowi’s vision which emphasizes the importance of developing the creative economy and technological innovation, AMANAH has become an innovation center capable of having a real impact on regional development. Under this program, Aceh’s young generation succeeded in creating various innovations that not only strengthened local technological capabilities, but also brought the region to the national stage.
At the 2024 Innovative Product Creative Expo (IPCE) at Ar Raniry State Islamic University (UIN), Banda Aceh, AMANAH’s technology products managed to steal the attention of academics and visitors.
The event showcased a number of technological innovations produced by AMANAH’s youth, such as humanoid robots and mobile applications. The exhibition not only shows the real results of the superior human resource development program, but also emphasizes AMANAH’s role as a catalyst for technological progress in Aceh.
Dr. Ir. M. Dirhamsyah, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, UIN Ar Raniry, gave high appreciation to the products on display at the AMANAH Booth. Dirhamsyah said that most of the products on display had exceeded the initial Technology Readiness Level (TKT), which is usually at level 1-4.
He assessed that the innovation developed by Acehnese youth under the guidance of AMANAH had reached a more advanced stage and was worthy of continuing development. According to him, the program succeeded in exploring the great potential that exists in the young generation in Aceh, especially in the fields of technology and science.
Dirhamsyah also expressed his hope that the collaboration between UIN Ar Raniry and AMANAH can continue, especially in the development of technological innovation in the future.
The Dean of FST UIN Ar Raniry emphasized the need to strengthen synergy with AMANAH, especially in facing challenges such as limited laboratory equipment which is often faced by educational institutions in Aceh.
Apart from that, Dirhamsyah hopes that AMANAH can send its technology experts to provide teaching and training to students, so that the quality of technology education in the regions can continue to be improved.
The exhibition at IPCE 2024 also attracted the attention of Irfan Rahmad Ghafar, Student President of UIN Ar Raniry. He acknowledged that the AMANAH program had opened UIN Ar Raniry students’ insight into the great potential in technological innovation.
According to him, the exhibition provided new inspiration for students to be more enthusiastic in exploring various opportunities in the world of technology. Visitors who attended the AMANAH booth were even given the opportunity to operate robots and technology applications directly, which further strengthened their understanding of the implementation of technology in everyday life.
Irfan added that with AMANAH, UIN Ar Raniry students now have wider access to information and training in the field of technology. This is a very valuable thing, considering that so far technological innovation among Acehnese students has still not received adequate attention and support.
Through AMANAH, Irfan hopes that collaboration between educational institutions and innovative programs like this can continue to develop, creating a more inclusive technology ecosystem and encouraging more young people to innovate.
President Jokowi, on various occasions, has emphasized the important role of the younger generation in building a stronger and more sustainable economy. He encouraged the younger generation to not only act as consumers, but also as producers who are able to create innovations that have a broad impact.
The AMANAH program is a manifestation of President Jokowi’s vision, where through the development of local technology, Acehnese youth can contribute directly to regional and national development.
The innovations produced by AMANAH, ranging from humanoid robots to the winning application of the Aceh Digital Innovation and Creativity Techfest (ADICT) competition, are concrete proof that the Aceh region has great potential in the field of technology.
This agenda has also opened up opportunities for collaboration with various educational and industrial institutions, which are expected to encourage Aceh to become a center for technological innovation in Indonesia.
In addition, AMANAH continues to expand the scope of its collaboration with various other stakeholders. This is done to strengthen Aceh’s position as a region capable of producing innovative products with high competitiveness at national and international levels.
AMANAH’s participation in IPCE 2024 is a concrete step towards realizing this vision, where academics, students and other technology activists can meet and exchange ideas in an effort to encourage mutual progress.
With various appreciations received from academics and students, AMANAH has proven itself to be an important pillar in advancing technology in the region. This superior human resource development program initiated by BIN has succeeded in inspiring many parties and is expected to continue to make a major contribution to technology-based economic development, not only in Aceh, but also throughout Indonesia.
In line with President Jokowi’s big vision, the AMANAH innovation center has been and will continue to be the main driver for the birth of a creative, innovative and highly competitive young generation.
*) Sharia Law and Policy Analyst – Aceh Law and Sharia Study Center
