On 2 – 3 July 2025, the NL Knowledge House successfully kicked off its collaboration with the Dutch Embassy Indonesia through a workshop on Energy-Efficiency in Public Buildings (EEPB), a timely topic as Indonesia accelerates its journey towards sustainable energy and climate adaptation.

The event began with opening remarks by Dr. Ir. Hendra Iswahyudi, M.Si, Director of Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), who provided a valuable overview of Indonesia’s energy consumption in public buildings and its strategy for energy transition. This was followed by Thorsten Roelofsen, Head of Climate & Energy at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Indonesia, who underlined the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration.

Day 1 of the workshop featured engaging presentations from experts, spotlighting a key focus area in energy-efficient building (EEB) design and implementation. Bram Entrop (Saxion University of Applied Sciences) set the tone by introducing energy concepts and financial decision-making frameworks, challenging participants to critically ask, “Do we really need it?” and to weigh both performance and economic viability. Jacco Bruil (The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS))) followed with insights into architectural and nature-inspired climate adaptation, encouraging us to “look at what nature has already solved” to address seasonal energy challenges. Monika Kuffer (University of Twente) demonstrated the potential of digital data, building simulations, and smart technologies like adaptive lighting to enhance both energy performance and human comfort in dense urban areas. Zyotty Thamsil (Colliers Indonesia) shared the journey of the Manhattan Square Building toward Greenship Gold Certification, emphasizing practical actions such as tenant engagement and making use of “low-hanging fruits,” while also addressing the complexity of retrofitting a non-digitized structure. Rizal Sebastian (THUAS) had also showcased real-world examples of energy-efficiency policies and incentives, including the DuMaVa subsidy scheme and ERDH public-private partnerships for scaling EEB solutions in the public sector. The day also highlighted two real-world case studies: Hanafi Guciano presented the Universitas Islam International Indonesia (UIII) campus project, offering insights into university-scale energy design, while Darto Setiawan shared quick background of the Hermina Tower, a high-rise office building working toward more energy-conscious upgrades. The introduction if the case studies provided relevant resources to apply the information participants have gotten from the presentations, if these methods are applicable to the two case studies.

Day 2 built on the insights from Day 1 with a hands-on, collaborative approach through pressure-cooker sessions focused on two real-life case studies: Hermina Tower and the UIII’s building. Participants were divided into groups and rotated among thematic lenses: financial feasibility, digitalization, nature-based adaptation, and data integration, with each themes are supervised by the experts. This format encouraged the practical application of concepts shared the day before, prompting participants to collectively explore context-driven solutions.

Participants included professionals from the public and private sectors, such as architects, urban planners, and government representatives. For example, an architect offered design ideas for integrating a cooling system through a central fountain at UIII, while an ESDM official explained funding pathways for adaptive renovations in public buildings. These diverse perspectives enriched the conversation, ensuring that the proposed strategies were not only innovative but also grounded in real-world policy and financial realities. The workshop concluded with each group of each case studies presenting their findings, demonstrating how the lessons learned could be applied to improve the sustainability of public buildings. Interest in expanding to additional case studies emerged—although discussions repeatedly underscored that financial viability remains a major hurdle in realizing energy-efficient transformations.

Alfiana Salsabila – Universitas Airlangga (Sustainable Urban Connections team)

“Collaborating with the students from the Netherlands has been truly enriching. Their innovation complements our local insights, creating a strong, goal-driven partnership. What stands out most is the seamless communication and positive interaction, making the project both enjoyable” 

Merise van den Berg – Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Sustainable Urban Connections team)

“ By visiting the case study location, Kampung Susun Kunir in Jakarta, it has become much clearer how a kampung works and how the community interacts with each other. Additionally, by visiting the kampung we gained a better picture of what is important to the residents” 

Canario Octonian Desetio – Universitas Airlangga (Waste Management and Circular Practices)

“This project enhanced my understanding of sustainable waste management practices and the principles of a circular economy. Visiting facilities such as Waste4Change and Taman Kompos gave me a real-world application of environmental engineering concepts, bridging the gap between theory and practice”

Salsabila Rakhfi Khoirunnisa – Universitas Indonesia (Experience Design for Sustainable Tourism)
“What I enjoyed was the opportunity to collaborate with incredibly warm and welcoming kampung residents, who were truly open to co-creating something meaningful. For example, we designed a workshop that may be continued independently by the community. It was important for us that the event felt rooted in their rhythm and values. Through this project, I also learned how designing an “experience” goes beyond aesthetics. It’s also about building trust, adapting communication, and creating space for mutual learning”

Meet the Experts

Boosting Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings: A Dutch-Indonesian Exchange

📅 2–3 July 2025
🕘 09.00 – 16.30 WIB
📍 Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jakarta

Indonesia is entering a new chapter in its sustainability journey, with national regulations now requiring energy conservation in public buildings. This opens up opportunities, and challenges, for institutions to adopt more energy-efficient practices.

To support this transition, NLKH, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Indonesia, is hosting a two-day technical workshop that brings together Indonesian and Dutch experts, government representatives, private sector actors, and academics.

👉 Curious who’s speaking? Check out the list of experts on the left-hand side of this page and click on their details!

The workshop will dive into real case studies: an office building by the Indonesian Property Management Association (IPMA) and a university campus development by the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII). They become the foundation for collaborative problem-solving and strategy co-creation.

What to Expect

• Knowledge exchange on sustainable design, retrofitting, and energy policies
• Pressure-cooker sessions using real case studies!
• Practical strategies covering technical, architectural, digital & financial aspects
• Opportunities to explore long-term partnerships in research, training, and student engagement

Who Should Join

Energy managers, building owners, architects, developers, engineers, banks, insurers, local governments, and anyone involved in Indonesia’s energy efficiency ecosystem.

Interested? Scan this QR Code!

For more information on the rundown of this event, check out the agenda by clicking the button below.

Agenda

The Netherlands and Indonesia have a long history of collaboration in water management, combining Dutch expertise with Indonesian innovation to address water-related challenges. On 13 March 2025, the NL Knowledge House (NLKH), in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy in Indonesia, hosted a dialogue with Dutch universities to share experiences and explore synergies in water cooperation. This discussion aimed to enhance existing partnerships and establish a framework for sustainable future collaboration.

A Shared Vision for Water Management

The event opened with remarks from Yvonne Klerks, Education and Science Attaché at the Dutch Embassy in Indonesia, who emphasized the importance of structured discussions to highlight areas for potential collaboration. Ivo van der Linden, Delegated Representative for Water at the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta, emphasized the need for holistic and sustainable approaches, integrating government, private sector, and development partners for impactful cooperation.

Nanya Burki, Head of Development and Partnership at Nuffic Southeast Asia, also added that within the framework of the ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on water (valid until 2027), a bilateral working group has been focusing on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and youth engagement. This framework provides a foundation for strengthening Dutch-Indonesian water partnerships, particularly in the education and research sectors.

Insights from Dutch Knowledge Institutions

Dutch knowledge institutions have been actively engaged in Indonesia, contributing to research, education, and policy development in water management. Their initiatives span a wide range of topics, including flood risk management, climate resilience, sustainable water governance, and capacity building. Institutions such as Open University and IHE Delft have focused on inclusive governance, research, and training programs, with IHE Delft boasting over 150 projects and 3,000 alumni in Indonesia. Deltares emphasized the importance of tailoring Dutch expertise to local contexts, fostering long-term knowledge exchange, and integrating technical solutions with social and environmental considerations.

Funding and policy support were key topics addressed by NWO (Dutch Research Council), which provides financial backing for joint Dutch-Indonesian research projects on groundwater rights, land subsidence, and the blue economy. Meanwhile, University of Twente and VU Amsterdam presented their contributions to disaster risk reduction and environmental sustainability, including projects on landslide early warning systems and the expansion of the Asia Water Academy in East Java. KITLV (Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies) brought a socio-environmental perspective, examining governance challenges, climate change education, and misinformation related to water management.

These knowledge institutions collectively underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, integrating policy, science, and local expertise to create lasting impact. Many institutions are also seeking to expand their initiatives and secure sustainable funding for long-term collaborations in Indonesia.

Next Steps

To build on this momentum, NLKH aims to provide a structured platform for continued collaboration. By leveraging collaboration dialogue initiatives, Dutch institutions can enhance accessibility to water cooperation efforts, enabling stakeholders to identify opportunities for research, capacity building, and policy development. As water challenges grow increasingly complex, fostering strong Dutch-Indonesian partnerships remains crucial in sustaining knowledge exchange, promoting interdisciplinary cooperation, and driving sustainable solutions for future water management.

To watch the recording of this dialogue, you may visit our YouTube channel at NL Knowledge House or click here.

Please submit your Expression of Interest by filling out this form or scan that QR Code before the deadline: 1 July 2025.

Launched last June during the NL Knowledge House (NLKH) Work Mission to Jakarta, the NLKH Living Lab aims to foster international collaboration and knowledge exchange among various stakeholders from Indonesia and the Netherlands to create innovative solutions for pressing challenges in sustainability and climate resilience. The first NLKH Living Lab brings together NLKH members that represent the Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences (The Hague University of Applied Sciences, AERES and Saxion University of Applied Sciences) with Indonesian universities (currently Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), President University). The Living Lab is guided by the team from Kampung Kollektief (previously What If Lab) who challenge the students to come up with innovative ideas that enhance the living environment for the residents from Kampung Susun Kunir, an urban neighbourhood in Jakarta which has emerged from forced eviction in 2015, and its neighbouring kampungs. The area around Kampung Susun Kunir is characterised by high population density and limited public space. “My hope for Kampung Susun Kunir is there will be a children’s playground and place for greenery,” shared Indri Yuliani, chairwoman of the Kunir cooperative

Living Labs: An Iterative Approach

Unlike traditional research projects, a Living Lab is characterized by an iterative process – solutions and ideas are developed and refined based on feedback and testing in the real-world situation.

Four students from Saxion and six students from UNAIR began collaborating virtually in September this year. Guided by Kampung Kollektief, the multidisciplinary team learned about the kampung’s historical ties to Kota Tua (Jakarta’s Old Town), the challenges at stake in the area after the eviction and they started to brainstorm what solutions could improve the local environment and enhance economic opportunities for the local community.

To test and refine these ideas in the real-world situation and deepen their collaboration with Kampung Susun Kunir’s community and Kampung Kollektief, the team travelled to Jakarta in November.

During this week-long visit, they engaged with various stakeholders including Kota Kita Foundation, the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta, Gudskul, Stuffo Makerspace and President University, whose students are focusing on Kunir’s tourism potential from an architecture perspective (read more here). Observing prototypes already in use, made by Kampung Kollektief, the offline interactions provided an opportunity to fine-tune ideas based on practical insights

“We explored the historical connection between Kampung Susun Kunir and Kota Tua, which has been instrumental in shaping ideas for future project planning that have a high potential for sustainable tourism and aim to develop projects that not only preserve the area’s legacy but also promote its economic and social sustainability,” explained by Salsa, one of the UNAIR students. Merise, her teammate from Saxion, adds: “it has become much clearer how a kampung works and how the community interacts with each other. Additionally, by visiting the kampung we gained a better picture of what is important to the residents.”

During the offline week, the team identified several potential strategies to enhance the financial and social capacity of Kampung Susun Kunir by leveraging its connection to Kota Tua, including ideas to design a merchandise, developing a mobile playground and a multifunctional area along the riverside.

Fostering International Knowledge Exchange

“Working with the Dutch students has been truly enriching. Their innovation complements our local insights, creating a strong, goal-driven partnership. What stands out most is the seamless communication and positive interaction, making the project both enjoyable,” Salsa explained.

To recognize the value of working across different cultures, countries and disciplines, and effectively apply the intercultural competencies in the remaining time that the team will collaborate virtually, they engaged in an intercultural training hosted by Renjana Intercultural Specialist Services.

Next up: Working On Concrete and Tangible Outcomes

In the remaining two months that the team will continue their work virtually, the team will enter the phase where they turn their ideas into prototypes or models to visualize their concepts. “We will work towards developing an intervention that will help Kampung Susun Kunir to become an example for other kampungs,” Merise said.

By involving academia, industry, government and civil society, the so-called “quadruple helix”, to work together in sharing expertise and jointly address challenges, it is hoped that the outcomes presented by the students are sustainable solutions that benefit the kampung’s living environment, but also pave the way for further innovation and investments.

Stay tuned for more updates on the NLKH Living Lab’s progress. For any ideas or questions regarding the Living Lab, please contact ctroost@nuffic.nl

The second matchmaking event of the year took place in the Netherlands on 24 September 2024, hosted at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), part of Erasmus University Rotterdam, located in The Hague. ISS provided their beautiful atrium, a bright and spacious venue that comfortably accommodated over 70 participants, making it the perfect setting for this important collaboration.

This flagship event has gathered a total of 71 participants, including representatives from 15 Dutch institutions and a diverse group from Indonesian institutions. While attendance on the day was slightly lower due to logistical challenges, including visa issues for some Indonesian attendees and conflicting class schedules for Dutch institutions, the event still proved to be impactful. The event was also attended by Academic Transfer’s Jeroen Sparla in the promotion and search for PhD applicants.

The matchmaking followed the opening session of the Week of Indonesian and the Netherlands Education and Research or WINNER Conference, which was held at Diligentia Theatre, also in the Hague. After attending the opening session, many representatives from both Dutch and Indonesian institutions made their way to the ISS venue to participate in the matchmaking discussions.

The event began with welcoming remarks from Ruard Ganzevoort, the new Co-Chair of the NL Knowledge House and a representative of Erasmus University Rotterdam. His presence added a special touch, as ISS not only served as the host venue but also played a role in facilitating this international collaboration. His remarks set a positive tone for the day, emphasizing the importance of continued partnerships between Dutch and Indonesian institutions.

The matchmaking consisted of seven sessions, where Indonesian and Dutch participants, pre-matched by the organizers, engaged in productive discussions. Although a few participants were unable to attend, the overall process ran smoothly and achieved its goal of fostering meaningful connections. As NLKH’s flagship activity, the matchmaking event highlights its relevance in an increasingly interdependent world that requires collaboration and partnerships to tackle emerging challenges. Serving as a platform for mutual understanding and new connections, NLKH is not only a hub for knowledge sharing and capacity building but also a forum where institutions can overcome geographic and organizational barriers. By hosting events like this, NLKH enables Dutch and Indonesian institutions to establish strong, sustainable relationships, driving impactful outcomes across fields such as education, sustainable development, and innovation.

In summary, the matchmaking event at ISS was a successful platform for advancing Dutch-Indonesian partnerships, paving the way for future collaborations in education, research, and beyond.

Building on the momentum of the first collaboration dialogue, a recent follow-up session aimed to deepen the understanding between Dutch and Indonesian academic institutions. While Indonesian universities have previously shared their success stories in partnering with Dutch universities, the Dutch institutions are also bringing their extensive experience and expertise to the table.

The dialogue featured members of the NL Knowledge House (NL KH) and was opened by the co-chair of NL KH, Ruard Ganzevoort who made his first appearance. In his address, Ruard emphasized the evolution of the partnership into a more mutual relationship, despite the changing political landscape. He underscored the importance of not only maintaining but also reinventing the way these collaborations are approached. The NL Knowledge House, representing Dutch universities, aims to use this dialogue to steer future collaborations in Indonesia towards fruitful outcomes.

Two Dutch universities, the University of Groningen and the University of Twente, represented the NL KH in this discussion. The University of Twente, represented by Lyande Eelderink, who is also the secretary of the knowledge house, highlighted two critical aspects of collaboration with Indonesian universities: the significance of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and the creation of double-degree programs. While Indonesian institutions often prioritize formalizing partnerships through MoUs, Dutch universities prefer to take a more measured approach, linking MoUs to concrete activities. This approach ensures that partnerships are practical, resource-efficient, and aligned with long-term strategic goals. The key question raised was: What should Indonesian and Dutch institutions prepare for the next matchmaking event in the Netherlands? Lyande emphasized the importance of identifying common interests, particularly in fields where both universities excel or seek to develop further. Mutual goals are essential to creating a win-win situation, with a focus on joint programs that, while time-consuming to establish, are ideal for relationship-building.

Groningen University echoed these sentiments. John Falvey, a member of the NL Knowledge House, began by discussing the elements of successful international collaboration. One key strategy is capitalizing on alumni networks. Alumni serve as academic ambassadors and can be instrumental in fostering sustainable partnerships. Groningen University, for example, leverages its Indonesian alumni to build long-lasting connections. Additionally, identifying common goals and drawing on past collaborations are crucial. Researchers with established networks can be valuable assets. For matchmaking, understanding your Dutch partner’s background, priorities, and key publications is essential. Once agreed upon, partners can create a roadmap with clear timeframes and objectives. Starting with small, manageable tasks is often the most sustainable approach.

During the Q&A session, one of the toughest questions was about ensuring the sustainability and long-term impact of collaborative projects. While funding is an obvious answer, strategic planning is also critical. Universities must define the long-term goals of the collaboration, focusing on topics like sustainability, social inequalities, and education equity. These goals should first be made concrete in the short term before addressing the bigger picture. A member of NL KH, Han Aarts from Maastricht University added that connecting research and education interests naturally leads to stronger ties. However, challenges remain, particularly in securing funding. In some cases, universities may use their funds, leveraging alumni and ongoing programs to sustain these efforts.

As the session concluded, participants reflected on the types of partnerships they envision for 2024 and beyond. The focus will be on building upon past successful collaborations and expanding current ones, ensuring that these partnerships are sustainable and continue to grow over time.

To watch the recording of this dialogue, you may visit our YouTube channel at NL Knowledge House or click here.