Under the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, the United States and Indonesia are using science and technology (S&T) to foster innovation, build people-to-people ties, and respond to global challenges such as climate change, food security, and emerging infectious diseases.  Our S&T collaboration includes a number of new initiatives as well as ongoing programs.

• Developing the Indonesian Science Enterprise:  Under the U.S.-Indonesia Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement that came into force this year, the United States and Indonesia will launch a new high-level dialogue in 2012 to bolster joint research and science development.  In addition, the United States is also launching a $600,000 science capacity building program to strengthen Indonesian scientists’ ability to obtain competitive research awards, enhance peer review processes, and increase Indonesian scientific publication rates.  We also launched a program under which the United States will provide $1.1 million in new funding to support collaborative research between U.S. and Indonesian scientists.
• Nurturing the Next Generation:  U.S. Science Envoy to Indonesia Dr. Bruce Alberts launched the U.S.-Indonesia Frontiers of Science program this year designed to foster scientific collaboration between the next generation of Indonesian and American science leaders.  Under its U.S.-Indonesia University Partnerships program, USAID currently supports exchanges between students, scholars, and institutions in both countries in marine conservation and biotechnology, indigenous plants and food security, public health, and climate change adaptation.
• Addressing Global Challenges:  The United States is providing $6.9 million in support – with matching funds from Norway – for the new Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC), which will focus on mapping and monitoring of carbon-rich peat lands and tropical forests with expertise from the U.S. Forest Service, bringing the best available science and analysis to international and Indonesian policy leaders on key strategies and decisions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
• Protecting Our Oceans:  The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration works actively with Indonesian marine scientists on research and capacity-building efforts, including developing tsunami early detection systems, deploying ocean instruments that allow scientists to predict long-term climate change, exploring uncharted deepwater habitats, and anticipating and monitoring outbreaks of harmful toxins affecting our food sources.