Bukalapak Will Soon Build Its Largest Research Center in Bandung
Achmad Zaky, CEO of Bukalapak who is also an alumnus of Informatics Engineering at STEI ITB
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia — Bukalapak will build its largest research center in Bandung by the middle of this year. The research center will develop various new technologies, including drones, blockchain, augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI).
Bukalapak CEO Achmad Zaky explained that one of the reasons for choosing Bandung as the location for the research center was his academic background. Zaky earned a bachelor's degree in engineering. Informatics Engineering at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 2004.
However, the biggest reason for placing the technology research center in Bandung is the large number of universities that focus on technology studies. According to Zaky, this number is higher than in other cities in Indonesia. "When it comes to technology, it's in Bandung. There's ITB, Itenas, Telkom Bandung, Unpar. Even Jakarta is second to none," Zaky said at Bukalapak's 8th anniversary press conference in Kuningan on Wednesday (January 10th).
In line with this plan, Bukalapak has already engaged several campuses, along with lecturers and deans working in the technology sector in Bandung. Zaky also stated that he has discussed the potential for smart city implementation with the Bandung Mayor.
Currently, the construction of the Bukalapak research center is still in the budgeting and land acquisition stages. Zaky declined to reveal the location of the research center.
However, the facility is planned to be built on approximately 5,000 square meters of land. Zaky declined to disclose the investment amount.
Zaky projects that 30 to 50 percent of Bukalapak's engineering activity will come from its own facilities. In terms of quantity, Bukalapak aims to recruit 200 local talents through the research center.
"We want to build the largest research center in Bandung, and hopefully that will be our commitment to developing local talent while advancing the domestic industry," Zaky added.
The research center will research and develop new technologies that are generally underdeveloped in Indonesia, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), drone delivery, blockchain, AI, and AR. Bukalapak did not specify how these technologies will be implemented in its current services. Bukalapak already has an office in Bandung with 20 employees.
However, with the development of the research center, they will concentrate all their research activities there by the middle of this year. (by age via cnnindonesia)