West Java Governor Expects Academic Role to Realize “Smart City”

[unpad.ac.id, 10/25/2018] West Java Province has a number of challenges in applying the smart city concept in each of its cities and districts. One of the challenges is the high technological gap between rural and urban areas. For this reason, the Provincial Government is asking for the participation of academics so that technological equity can be fulfilled in all regions in West Java.

West Java Governor M. Ridwan Kamil opened the “International Conference on Smart City Innovation 2018” at the Prama Grand Preanger Hotel, Asia Afrika Street No. 80, Bandung, Thursday (10/25). (Photo: Tedi Yusup) *

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said, only a small number of cities/regencies in West Java are ready with the smart city concept. The uneven implementation of this technology has become the Provincial Government’s task in realizing West Java as a digital province in the next five years.

“In the end the economy is rising, the government can be effectively, efficiently solve problems with transparency and speed,” Ridwan Kamil said when opening the 2018 “International Conference on Smart City Innovation” at Prama Grand Preanger Hotel, Asia Afrika No. 80, Bandung, Thursday (10/25).

The governor who is familiarly called Emil said, the application of technology to rural and urban communities has a different level of education. He himself has prepared two planning documents, namely the blueprint for implementing technology for 26 cities/regencies in West Java, outside the city of Bandung. Another smart rural document to be applied in rural areas.

“(Smart rural) this is something new. I need help. “In my city there is already a living experience equipped with research from academics,” said the former Mayor of Bandung in front of the event participants.

Emil admitted, it was difficult to change the culture of the village community to have better technology literacy. In fact, current technology plays an important role in improving the welfare of rural communities. This challenge was rolled out by Emil to academics in universities.

“How to transform a society that is less connected becomes connected (technology),” he added.

In the event held at the collaboration of USAID SHERA Center for Collaborative Research on Scientific Modeling, Application, Research and Training for City-Centered Innovation and Technology (CCR Smart City) with Unpad and 4 other universities, Emil encouraged effective research to answer that challenge.

“I will ask for the results of the research, if it was suitable, we would implement it, so that the research should not be an ivory tower,” said Emil.

Unpad Rector Prof. Tri Hanggono Achmad said, the involvement of various institutions and stakeholders was needed in conducting this research. This is because a lot of research has not answered the real problems in society.

“In an event like this it is important to present views from the community. “Not infrequently, academic views always believe that it’s true, but the reality isn’t approving,” said the Rector. *

 

Reported by Arief Maulana | Translated by dfa

Share this: