Australia-Indonesia Partnering for Innovation
An event by The University of Queensland (UQ), in association with Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC) and IndOz Conference.
This special partner event provides a platform to explore collaborative approaches and examine the role of industry–academia partnerships in addressing shared societal challenges. The event is designed for participants with a strong interest in Australia–Indonesia engagement, especially applied research collaboration.
A choice of guided tours to UQ’s world-class research facilities will offer participants first-hand insight into the University’s research capabilities and serve as a catalyst for partnership discussions and future collaboration.
This event is by invitation only. If you are interested in attending and would like to enquire about participation, please contact UQ Global Partnerships at globalstrategy@uq.edu.au.
Invitees from among IndOz Conference 2026 delegates, AIBC business members, and UQ community including:
- Industry leaders and practitioners
- Academic researchers
- Policymakers
- Partnership, innovation, and commercialisation managers.
Event highlights
- Foster Australia-Indonesia academia and industry connections
- Identify of potential collaboration opportunities in priority research areas
- Showcase UQ’s research infrastructure and engagement capabilities relevant to Indonesia.
Tuesday 1 September 2026
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:45–9am | Arrival with tea and coffee |
| 9:10-9:25am | Welcome and opening remarks |
| 9:25-10:15am | Panel discussion and Q&A: Partnering for Innovation: Industry–Academic Strategic Engagement with Indonesia Designed for government, industry, and university stakeholders, this session will provide practical insights into how universities can act as trusted partners in advancing bilateral priorities and strengthening innovation. The panel discussion focuses on industry and academic engagement between Australia and Indonesia. The event emphasises how long-standing partnerships are delivering tangible outcomes across education, research and industry collaboration. Drawing on UQ’s experience working with leading Indonesian universities, government agencies and industry partners, the session will explore how multi‑sector partnerships can drive innovation, support skills development, and contribute to shared economic and societal priorities. The discussion will also consider emerging opportunities to deepen collaboration in areas of strategic importance. |
| 10:15-10:45am | Catered networking session with academic, industry, and international delegates |
| 11am-12pm | Guided visit to selected UQ facilities highlighting UQ’s advanced research capabilities. Tours will run in parallel. The group would be divided into sub-groups depending on their preferred site visit: 1. Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) with Professor Kris Thurecht From breakthroughs in personalised medicine; to the creation of clean energy systems; and the use of biological materials to reduce reliance on fossil fuels - AIBN is making an impact and solving some of society’s biggest challenges. Discover how microorganisms and fungi can recover critical minerals and remediate mine waste, learn about next-generation batteries and sustainable energy-storage technologies, and see how agricultural waste and natural fibres are being transformed into high-value sustainable materials. 2. Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) with Dr Chris Pugmire This guided tour will introduce participants to IMB's multidisciplinary approach to addressing major health and societal challenges. Participants will learn how IMB researchers draw on biology, chemistry, genomics, and advanced research technologies to understand disease, identify new therapeutic opportunities, and translate scientific discoveries towards practical applications. Highlights will include research using molecules from Australia’s flora and fauna to develop new therapeutics and agricultural pesticides. The tour will also explore opportunities for universities, industry, and government to collaborate with IMB through joint research, researcher exchange, access to specialist expertise and infrastructure, and the translation of discoveries into health, economic and societal benefits. 3. Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) with Professor Mark Turner and Plant Growth Facility with Melissa Philip The FaBA MakerSpace is a purpose-built food innovation facility at UQ that supports industry collaboration, teaching and student research. Equipped with advanced food processing and prototyping technologies, it enables businesses to rapidly develop, test and refine new food and beverage products in a low-risk environment. The facility also provides students with hands-on experience in food processing, product development and research through practical teaching activities and research projects. By bringing together industry partners, UQ researchers and students, the MakerSpace accelerates innovation, builds workforce capability and supports pathways to commercialisation, helping bring new ideas to market more efficiently. Plant Growth is a Collaborative Research Platform designed to support undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research activities at UQ, while also providing a wide range of complementary plant growth facilities and support resources. Together, these facilities support a research pipeline that extends from the laboratory to the field across multidisciplinary and multi-institutional projects. The Plant Futures Facility is one part of this platform and is recognised as one of the leading controlled-environment plant growth facilities in the Southern Hemisphere. Important: As you are entering a PC2 space, please follow all PC2 legislation and attire directions outlined in this appointment. Additionally, you must not have visited any other Plant Growth or agricultural space prior to this tour. Attire: Please wear non-porous closed-in shoes. 4. Biosustainbility Hub with Professor Esteban Marcellin The UQ Biosustainability Hub is a collaborative research environment built to tackle problems at scale. By bringing together experts across synthetic biology, bioprocess engineering, data science and economics, the UQ Biosustainability Hub accelerates the translation of bold ideas into real-world solutions. |
UQ engagement with Indonesia
UQ has a proud history of collaboration with Indonesia. The University has 47 active agreements with Indonesian institutions and organisations and enrolled more than 970 Indonesian students in 2025. University of Indonesia (UI), the nation’s top-ranked institution, is one of UQ’s 5 Flagship Partners globally. In 2025, marking 25 years of partnership, UQ and Universitas Indonesia established the UI–UQ Collaboration Centre to advance joint research, innovation and academic exchange.
Research is central to UQ's engagement with Indonesia. With 165 Indonesian PhD students enrolled in 2025, Indonesia is the 3rd largest international PhD cohort at UQ.
Through UQ International Development (UQID), UQ plays a significant role in strengthening Indonesia’s human capital and institutional capacity. As one of the largest providers of Australia Awards Indonesia Short Term Award programs, UQID has enabled more than 1,420 Indonesian professionals to undertake targeted training, site visits, and professional networking in Australia.
UQ is the only university in Queensland currently offering Indonesian language studies.
About UQ
UQ is consistently ranked among the world’s top 50 universities and one of Australia’s leading teaching and research universities. UQ has more than 2,500 scientists, social scientists, and engineers working alongside government and industry on 3,500+ active research projects spanning discovery to commercialisation. The University's strengths span critical areas including climate change, health and biomedical innovation, advanced manufacturing, sustainable agrifood and infrastructure, and sustainable mining. UQ is Australia’s number 1 university for research commercialisation.
About Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC)
AIBC is the peak, non-profit business association involved with the promotion and facilitation of trade and investment between Australia and Indonesia.
AIBC works with a full range of organisations, from SMEs to multinational corporations, across sectors including agribusiness, education, resources, consulting, legal services, engineering and construction. AIBC also liaises closely with government stakeholders and bilateral business chambers to help build connections and assist Queensland businesses to access opportunities in the Indonesian market.
About IndOz
For more than a decade, IndOz has been the independent cornerstone and the largest annual gathering of the Australia-Indonesia bilateral business networks. In 2025, IndOz convened 600+ leaders from government, business, finance, and academia actively shaping the bilateral economic corridor.
2026 marks a deliberate shift. As bilateral trade reaches $34.83 billion in 2025, the opportunity is no longer in identifying alignment, but in executing bankable projects across infrastructure, agrifood, mining, education, and digital systems. This year's theme, "Beyond Dialogue, Making Deals", reflects IndOz's evolution into a platform where deals are scoped, partners are matched, and capital meets implementation.
