Depok. Mochtar Riady, founder of the Lippo Group, has inaugurated a Nano Device Laboratory at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia (FTUI). The laboratory will support students in designing and advancing research in nanotechnology.

As one of the major donors for the laboratory’s construction, Mochtar Riady emphasized the global shift towards artificial intelligence (AI) and expressed concern over the educational sector’s slow adaptation to these advancements.

“The inauguration of this laboratory is a strategic step to position Indonesia as a key player in nanotechnology. Additionally, it lays a strong foundation for the development of the chip industry in our country,” he said during the ceremony at Mochtar Riady Plaza Quantum (MRPQ), Department of Electrical Engineering, FTUI on Monday.

Riady hopes the new facility will benefit UI students and contribute significantly to scientific advancements. He envisions the laboratory as a driving force for Indonesia’s economic growth.

“We expect UI to utilize this lab as a catalyst for our nation’s economy,” he added.

The Nano Device Laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge research tools, including a semiconductor parameter analyzer and maskless laser lithography, to support high-precision experiments.

The laboratory’s advanced equipment and potential for fostering collaboration between academia and industry were highlighted. It has been named in honor of Prof.Djoko Hartanto, a prominent figure in the field of sensors and a founding father of the Electrical Engineering Department at FTUI.

Djoko Hartanto hopes the lab will advance solar cell technology, noting that patents for solar cells are currently held by developed countries. He aspires for Indonesia to be able to produce high-efficiency solar cells, with current market efficiency below 20 percent while theoretical efficiency can reach up to 70 percent.

“I hope we can discover something that benefits both scientific development and public welfare, particularly in solar cells. We should be able to produce high-efficiency cells like those with patents held by major nations,” Djoko said.