BHTV

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BHTV is an acronym for Bandung High Tech Valley. It is an initiative to foster technology-based business and industries in Bandung region. It aims to be the Silicon Valley of Indonesia. Note that the term "Bandung" is not restricted to Bandung city only, but rather greater Bandung areas.

The BHTV initiative was originated from Ministry of Industry and Trade of Indonesia as a mean to increase electronics export. It was started in 1986, but was forgotten when Indonesia faced economy crisis in 1997. It was then re-started by some people in Insitut Teknologi Bandung.

[edit] Why Bandung?

Bandung has most of the ingredients to make a successful technology area. First of all, Bandung has Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), one of the best science, engineering and art university in Indonesia. ITB attracts top students in Indonesia. The brightest students usually go to this university [citation needed].

Second, most Indonesian technology-based companies or institutions are located in Bandung. Examples include PT Telkom (telecommunication company: the head quarter and research center), PT Inti (electronics and telecommunication manufacturer), LEN (Lembaga Elektronika Nasional), Omedata (IC bonding and packanging), PT Dirgantara Indonesia (used to be called IPTN, aircraft industry), PT Kereta Api Indonesia (train), Quasar (telecommunication equipments). Of course there are plenty smaller (and start up) companies.

Third, Bandung is known for its creativity in arts, traditional and modern. Many artists, musicians, bands, painters come from Bandung. In fact, mixing technology and arts would be the best bet for BHTV. ITB is also the first science and technical university in Indonesia that has Faculty of Fine Art and Design.

Many small technology-based companies (especially in Information Technology) locate their factories in Bandung. These companies are usually focused in Research and Development. Business is still in Jakarta. However, traffic jam is still a problem, especially during the weekends.

The only ingredient that is still missing in Bandung is the existence of technology-based multinational company in the region. There are already technology companies in Bandung, but they are not multinational companies. These companies will act as anchors to the environment, keeping talented people (science and engineering graduates) in the region. That is why one of BHTV programme is to attract companies to invest in research and development in Bandung. They are in the process of talking to Microsoft and Intel.

[edit] Plan and Progress

The main focus of current BHTV initiative is to help small tech companies to start in Bandung. It is mainly done through electronic means. Physical meetings were also carried out, but it is not being done anymore.

Another activity is to attract multinational companies to invest in research and development in the region. Talks have been initiated with some big and small companies.

In 2004, there was a BHTV expo, in which 70 companies (mostly in IT) were participated. There is a plan to have a similar expo in 2005.

There is an ongoing discussion with Cimahi city to assist them in creating a technology region (park, center) in the city.

In February 10, 2006, BHTV Foundation has been legally founded by four ITB faculty members to further oversee the development of BHTV.

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