UNDIP, Semarang (July 20, 2025) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) continues to foster inspiring individuals who excel academically while making tangible contributions to the nation. One such figure is Prof. Joga Dharma Setiawan, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, UNDIP. He currently serves as President Director of PT LEN Industri, the holding company of Defend ID, a state-owned defense industry conglomerate overseeing more than 20 entities.
Prof. Joga’s academic journey reflects a profound commitment to mastering cutting-edge science and technology at the global level. He began his studies in Mechanical Engineering at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1987, then received a Habibie scholarship in 1989 to study in Boston, USA. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University in 1992, followed by a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1996. In 2000, he completed his Ph.D. at Michigan State University.
While in the United States, Prof. Joga worked as an engineer in the helicopter and aircraft engine division at General Motors Corp. in Indiana (now Rolls-Royce Corp.), a technical consultant at AlliedSignal in Arizona, and an R&D engineer at Beacon Power Corp. in Massachusetts.
Prof. Joga began his academic career as a lecturer and researcher specializing in engineering control systems. For over two decades, he has been deeply involved in curriculum development, research, and community service, mentoring future engineers who are both technically proficient and visionary. He also served as a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia, for two years. Since 2017, he has served as a judge for the Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI), an annual event organized by the National Achievement Center.
Among his notable innovations in mechanical engineering and robotics are:
- Bionic Hand: A robotic hand technology designed for medical and industrial applications to enhance mobility and efficiency.
- Robotic Sailboat: An AI-based autonomous sailing vessel capable of operating without human intervention.
- Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Tracker: A mini-scale satellite tracking system for high-precision data monitoring.
- IoT Application with LoRA (Long Range) Communication: A smart communication system for efficient data exchange in modern industrial IoT environments.
- Electric Bus Dynamics and Control: Research on electric vehicle dynamics and control systems to support future sustainable transport.
These innovations underscore not only Prof. Joga’s expertise but also the university’s role as a driver of national technological advancement. He believes institutions like UNDIP are strategically positioned to develop global and collaborative research ecosystems that can deliver meaningful innovations.
Prof. Joga is also an active member of various national research centers, including:
- CoREM (Center of Coastal Disaster Rehabilitation and Mitigation) – UNDIP
- CBIOM3S (Center for Bio Mechanics, Bio Material, Bio Mechatronics, and Bio Signal Processing) – UNDIP
- NCSTT (National Center for Sustainable Transportation Technology) – ITB
Since 2019, Prof. Joga has led the Environmental Sensing Research Group under the MIT-Indonesia Research Alliance (MIRA), an international collaboration funded by Indonesia’s Ministry of Research and Technology. Through this initiative, he heads a multidisciplinary Indonesian team working with MIT’s Multimedia Lab to develop AI- and IoT-based satellite environmental monitoring systems. He researched environmental monitoring systems utilizing satellite data/imagery sensors, as well as AI and IoT-based data processing.
Among students and colleagues, Prof. Joga is known for his humility, warmth, and unrelenting passion for innovation. His expertise in control systems engineering is evident not only in academic publications and teaching but also through strategic research collaborations with industrial partners.
His appointment as President Director of PT LEN Industri is a testament to the state’s confidence in his ability to lead Indonesia’s strategic technological transformation. In this role, he plays a key part in promoting defense technology independence through research-based innovation and multi-stakeholder collaboration, including with higher education institutions.
Prof. Joga exemplifies how academic excellence can align with strategic industrial leadership. He actively bridges the gap between higher education and national industry needs—advancing UNDIP’s mission to become a world-class research university that contributes meaningfully to national development.
As a proud member of UNDIP’s academic community, Prof. Joga instills the belief that dignity lies in integrity, and being impactful means delivering applicable, solution-driven knowledge. He continues to promote international collaboration and innovative research at UNDIP in pursuit of the university’s goal to become one of the world’s top 500 universities.
With integrity, dedication, and a broad vision, Prof. Joga represents UNDIP’s commitment to producing leaders who thrive in a dynamic world and uphold the values of relevant, impactful, and dignified higher education. (Public Communication/ UNDIP/ DHW)