Jakarta, 6 February – Continuing our annual tradition of fostering impactful research dialogue, this year, BINUS University Research & Technology Transfer partnered with the Korean Institute of Information Technology (KIIT), which has consistently promoted information technology research through its scientific forums and academic publications involving about 7,500 researchers from more than 200 universities, to successfully host the ICOBAR–SMART Joint Conference 2026 on 5–6 February 2026, held in a hybrid format at our Anggrek Campus and online. 

(Photo Credit: Mufti Al Warits)

ICOBAR 2026 marks the 8th implementation of the International Conference on Biospheric Harmony Advanced Research, which has been held annually since 2019. Through our collaboration with KIIT, we bring the conference into synergy with its flagship SMART 2026 forum, bringing forward the advancement in the Internet of Things, Edge Computing, Artificial Intelligence, computational transportation methods, and autonomous systems. This direction strongly reinforces BINUS University’s research agenda in responding to today’s global challenge of uniting advanced technology with intelligent governance, sustainable business, and transformative education.  

(Photo Credit: Mufti Al Warits)

“We believe research must be both rigorous and relevant. It should not only advance academic knowledge but also provide a strong foundation for policy development and application, strengthen industry, empower communities, and drive sustainable innovation in line with our university’s vision of empowering and fostering society to build and serve the nation that has been carried forward for nearly 45 years,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Juneman Abraham, our Vice-Rector for Research and Technology Transfer, during the opening ceremony. 

(Photo Credit: Mufti Al Warits)

Drawing on the complementary strengths of BINUS and KIIT, the conference carries the theme Convergence 2026: Smart Governance, Intelligent Business, and Revolutionary Mobility for a Sustainable Global Ecosystem. The theme signals the global urgency to ensure that the rapid advancement of technologies, ranging from artificial intelligence to intelligent mobility systems, is accompanied by adaptive governance frameworks and business models that promote innovation, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. 

(Photo Credit: Mufti Al Warits)

“Addressing technology and sustainability challenges requires solid international research collaboration. The partnership between KIIT and BINUS University amplifies the academic contributions of South Korea and Indonesia in delivering globally impactful solutions. We warmly welcome this collaboration as part of our shared commitment to advancing ideas and research partnerships that are relevant to industry needs, policy development, and sustainable progress,” said Prof. Insik Choi, President of the Korean Institute of Information Technology. 

(Photo Credit: Mufti Al Warits)

Through an interdisciplinary approach, ICOBAR–SMART 2026 spotlighted how technological innovation can be transformed into actionable public policy and business solutions with lasting impact. This focus resonated strongly across the global community bringing together academics, policymakers, and industry professionals from multiple countries and yielding 261 paper submissions. Therefore, the strong response underscores the conference’s commitment to closing the gap between research advancement and the evolving needs of industry through more applied, collaborative, and high-impact outcomes. 

(Words by Mita Adhisti/Editor: Aninda Rahmasari)