IKN – The 2026 Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI) officially concluded on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Amphitheater, Sentra Massa/Visitor Center, Plaza Ceremony, Nusantara Capital City (IKN). The closing ceremony marked the end of the five-day competition, held from September 21 to 25, 2026, with Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) serving as the host university.

KRTI 2026 served as both a national competition and a learning platform for students from universities across Indonesia to develop flying robot and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technologies. Based on the official KRTI 2026 National Assessment Report, a total of 94 teams participated in the assessment process across five competition divisions.

Throughout the five-day event, participants underwent various stages ranging from aircraft preparation and technical testing to mission execution, performance evaluation, and system refinement based on actual field conditions. The process challenged students not only in terms of technological readiness, but also in analytical thinking, decision-making, teamwork, and problem-solving.

The KRTI 2026 assessment process involved 20 jury members representing universities, industry, the Indonesian Aero Sport Federation, ASTTA, Institut Teknologi Kalimantan, and the Indonesian Air Force at Dhomber Air Base.

The KRTI 2026 Closing Ceremony began with entertainment performances, a video documenting the journey of the competition, and remarks from several stakeholders. The program then continued with the official closing procession, the announcement of the jury’s decision, and the presentation of awards to the winners.

ITK Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Erma Suryani, said that over the course of the competition, participants had brought their best ideas and innovations to the skies of IKN through various works in aerospace technology. She noted that the entire process—from competition dynamics and field evaluations to the final results—had provided valuable learning experiences for the students.

“Congratulations to the teams that received awards tonight. Remain humble. For those who have not yet achieved the results they hoped for, do not be discouraged, because KRTI has given us valuable experiences, lessons, and new friendships. We are all winners, and these achievements would not have been possible without the trust and support of many parties,” said Prof. Erma.

KRTI was also emphasized as more than a competition to determine winners. Beny said the event served as a platform where students had to face real challenges that were not always identical to the conditions under which their aircraft had originally been designed on campus.

“KRTI is not only about who wins. It is a platform for students to solve problems, make decisions, and respond to challenges that arise in the field. What is designed on campus must be able to adapt to the actual conditions at IKN. This is where students’ analytical abilities are truly tested,” he said.

He also encouraged participants who had not yet achieved the results they expected not to consider their journey finished. The experiences gained throughout KRTI could become an important foundation for evaluating technology and developing stronger innovations in the future.

Rector of Institut Teknologi Kalimantan, Prof. Dr. Agus Rubiyanto, M.Eng.Sc., also reminded participants that challenges are an inseparable part of every competition and technological development process.

“Every competition will certainly have its challenges. However, all of you are winners. Never stop being curious, because there are still many opportunities ahead to create innovations that can help solve Indonesia’s challenges,” said Prof. Agus.

On the occasion, Prof. Agus also expressed his appreciation to all participants, faculty advisors, jury members, organizing committees, volunteers, the Nusantara Capital Authority, and all parties who contributed to the organization of KRTI 2026. He also apologized for any shortcomings during the event and wished all participants a safe journey back to their respective regions.

Meanwhile, Jury Chair Mona Arif Muda expressed appreciation for the improvement in the quality of student innovations showcased at KRTI 2026. According to him, the 94 teams competing at the national level represented some of the best teams that had gone through a long process before finally flying their aircraft in the skies of IKN.

“Alhamdulillah, 94 of the best teams have flown in the skies of IKN. We appreciate the improvement in quality shown across all divisions. KRTI is not only about aircraft that can fly, but also about system reliability and how these technologies can provide benefits to the nation. Going forward, we hope the innovations developed through KRTI will create an even greater impact, in line with the spirit of ‘Kampus Berdampak’,” he said.

A total of 36 awards were presented across five divisions: Racing Plane, Fixed Wing, Vertical Take Off Landing (VTOL), Long Endurance Low Altitude (LELA), and Technology Development (TD). The awards included main placements, honorable mentions, and special recognitions covering performance, design, safety, strategy, teamwork, innovation, and technological potential.

The awards ceremony concluded with Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) being named the Overall Champion of KRTI 2026. ITS’ achievement was supported by BAYUCARAKA ITS, which secured First Place in the Fixed Wing Division, First Place in the Long Endurance Low Altitude (LELA) Division, and First Honorable Mention in the Technology Development Division.

Holding KRTI 2026 in the IKN area gave the competition a distinctive significance. As an area being developed with a vision for the future, IKN provided a relevant setting for bringing together student innovation and the broader development of national technology.

UAV technologies developed by students have broad potential applications, ranging from mapping and regional monitoring to disaster mitigation, humanitarian missions, logistics, and industrial needs. For this reason, the innovations produced during the competition are expected to continue developing beyond the end of KRTI.

The conclusion of KRTI 2026 did not only produce winners. It also left participants with new experiences, networks, evaluations, and lessons. The interaction among students from different universities is expected to open new opportunities for collaboration and encourage the development of unmanned aerial technologies that are increasingly relevant to Indonesia’s needs.

KRTI 2026 may have officially concluded in Nusantara Capital City, but the journey of Indonesian students in advancing innovation and creating technologies with real impact continues.