After the signing of the Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between ITS and PT INKA regarding the continuation of the production of the Red and White Electric Bus in the ITS Rectorate Building

ITS Campus, ITS News – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has demonstrated its commitment to the importance of the national electric vehicle ecosystem through a research collaboration on the Red and White Electric Bus (BLiMP) for operational vehicles during the Group of Twenty Summit (G20 Summit) in Bali. Therefore, ITS and PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA) signed a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) to continue BLiMP production at the ITS Rectorate Building, last Saturday (19/11).

The signing of the MCC was attended by Acting Director General (Dirjen) Higher Education, Research and Technology (Diktiristek) Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) Prof Ir Nizam MSc DIC PhD IPU ASEAN Eng. Apart from that, the President Director of PT INKA Ir Budi Noviantoro, Deputy Chancellor IV ITS Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng PhD, as well as a team of researchers and a number of other ITS officials were also present.

PKS signing by ITS Deputy Chancellor IV Bambang Pramujati ST MScEng PhD (three from left) and PT INKA Development Director Agung Sedaju (three from right)

In his remarks, Bambang said that four BLiMP units had been deployed at the last G20 Summit. Furthermore, the BLiMP research team together with PT INKA will continue production of five buses within a month forward. Currently, the five buses have reached the finishing stage, so they are only waiting for the right time to launch them. “The five buses are ready to be used by the community,” said Bambang.

Deputy Chancellor IV ITS Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng PhD (left) while giving his speech before the signing of the MCC between ITS and PT INKA regarding the continuation of the production of the Red and White Electric Bus

In this research collaboration, ITS as the team leader worked closely with universities other. Among others, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Universitas Airlangga (Unair), and Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Denpasar. Bambang said the cooperation between universities had been running for 10 months.

Bambang thinks that the BLiMP production collaboration is a special learning opportunity. With the education sector represented by universities in collaboration with the industrial sector, namely PT INKA. “This collaboration is expected to be able to increase the experience of academics and the utilization of domestic products,” said Bambang.

Main Director of PT INKA Ir Budi Noviantoro (left) during a discussion with the Red and White Electric Bus research team in the ITS Rectorate Building

In line with Bambang, Main Director of PT INKA Ir Budi Noviantoro said, this collaboration supports the contribution of universities in Indonesia. What’s more, this proves that ITS and three other universities in the research collaboration are committed to improving the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia.

The Director General Prof Ir Nizam MSc DIC PhD IPU ASEAN Eng (in a checkered shirt) with ITS leadership, PT INKA, and the Red and White Electric Bus research team in the ITS Rectorate Building

Meanwhile, the Director General of Higher Education and Technology Prof. Nizam revealed that the four buses used at the Bali G20 Summit had received a lot of praise and appreciation from the Ministers who were also present. Nizam added that the next five buses will be utilized in priority national tourism sectors such as in the Labuan Bajo area and Borobudur Temple. “If we continue to apply the nation’s children’s electric vehicles, our economy will be even stronger,” said Nizam optimistically.(ITS Public Relation)