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Can Technology Be the Key to Nationalism as Believed by Habibie?

Wednesday, 23 July 2025

Who’s B.J. Habibie?

Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie is an inspirational figure for the people of Indonesia due to his influence in the history of technology, especially in the aviation sector. Known as the Father of Indonesian Technology, B.J. Habibie received his education at SMAK Dago Bandung and continued his studies at ITB college when it was still called the University of Indonesia Bandung for a year.  

Then continued his studies in Germany, namely Aeronautical Engineering at the Rhein Wastfalen Aachen Technische Hochschule, where he was involved in technology development, apart from studying.  There, Habibie designed a lighter and more efficient wagon structure using the principles of aircraft aerodynamics while working in the railroad industry at the Talbot Firm. 

Habibie’s Perspective on the Relationship Between Technology and Nationalism. 

Technology and innovation are fundamental drivers in shaping a nation’s independence. As envisioned by B.J. Habibie, strong mastery of technology can serve as a key to fostering nationalism and enhancing Indonesia’s competitiveness on the global stage.  

The Three Pillars of Technological Self-Reliance 

1.    Education as a Push Factor 

Technical universities play a vital role in producing skilled engineers and technologists. However, Indonesia still faces a shortage in both the number and quality of such institutions. Strengthening human resources in the field of engineering is essential to accelerate technological independence.  

B.J. Habibie’s genius mind led to the discovery of Crack theory (crack propagation theory) and led him to be awarded as Honorary Professor from ITB and the Ganesha Praja high award. Habibie has also received the Edward Warner Award and the Von Karman Award which are equivalent to the Nobel Prize.  

B.J. Habibie returned to Indonesia per request od the government and developed Indonesian’s aerospace industry and led the Nurtanio Aircraft Industry (IPTN). Under his leadership, Indonesia successfully produced the CN235, and N2130 aircraft, with the N250 Gatotkaca being the first turboprop aircraft to use fly by wire technology.  

2.   Industry as a Pull Factor 

The industry sector must be responsive to market demands while also contributing to technological advancement. This includes investing in research and development (R&D) and forming strategic partnerships with academic institutions to create a more innovation-driven environment. 

3.   Government Policy as a Supporting Factor 

Supportive government policies are critical in promoting innovation and technology. Favorable regulations and budget allocations aimed at technological independence can foster a conducive ecosystem for the growth of tech-based industries. 

Habibie’s Techno-Nationalism Vision 

B.J. Habibie believes tha technology is able to foster nationalism in people. This ia demonstrated by his N-250 aircraft, which offered optimism to the Indonesian people’s future and indicated that techno-nationalism worked up until the monetary crisis. Technology is not just a tool for economic growth it is a means to nurture nationalism. Through technological independence, Indonesia can become truly self-reliant, no longer depending on foreign powers. Building a strong innovation ecosystem, empowering academic, industrial, and governmental roles, and raising public awareness about the importance of technology are crucial steps toward becoming a sovereign and globally competitive nation. 

Challenges in Indonesia’s Technological Development 

  • Limited Human Resources (HRD) 

There is a shortage of labor with expertise in information and digital technology. In addition, there is a gap between industry needs and the quality of higher education graduates. 

  • Unsupportive Regulations and Policies 

There is a lack of flexible regulations to support technological innovation. Slow bureaucratic processes often hinder the implementation of digital solutions. 

  • Low Digital Literacy 

Some people do not have a deep understanding of technology, including its use for productivity and security.  

  • Differences in Opinions and Viewpoints 

In Indonesia, cultural factors still hamper the development of science and technology. This is partly because there are different opinions and viewpoints from the community regarding advanced technology.  

  • Ethnocentric Attitude 

The attitude of favoring one’s own culture and looking down on the culture of others is often referred to as ethnocentric. This problem causes the progress of science and technology in Indonesia to be hampered and left behind by other countries. 

The Role of the Younger Generation

Young generations play an important role in driving technological innovation that can advance the nation. They are not only users of technology, but also creators and innovators in various fields. For example, the development of mental health applications, as well as learning platforms such as Ruangguru and Zenius, shows how young people utilize technology to provide solutions to social and educational problems.  

The active participation of young people in technological innovation reflects a form of modern nationalism. By creating technological solutions that are relevant to the needs of the country, they demonstrate care and commitment to national progress. 

Nationalism in the digital era is not only about preserving culture, but also about how we contribute to nation-building through the use of technology. Thus, the contribution of young people in technological innovation not social progress, but also strengthens the sense of nationalism in the face of the challenges brought by the changing times.  

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