IKN– The 2026 Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI) is not merely a platform for students to demonstrate their ability to design and develop unmanned aerial vehicles. For Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK), as the host institution, the competition carries a broader meaning: serving as a space for young talents to grow while contributing to Indonesia’s future technological self-reliance.

The Rector of Institut Teknologi Kalimantan emphasized that the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology has gone far beyond its use as a recreational device. UAVs have become important instruments across various sectors, including national defense and security, spatial mapping, disaster mitigation, environmental monitoring, logistics, and smart agriculture.

“UAV technology today is no longer merely a hobby tool, but a crucial instrument in various sectors of life,” the ITK Rector stated in his remarks during KRTI 2026.

According to him, this development gives greater strategic significance to students’ ability to design and develop UAV technology. The work carried out by participants throughout the preparation and competition process is not simply part of a contest, but also a practical learning experience that contributes to strengthening the nation’s technological capabilities.

“Through the innovations you create today, you are laying the foundation for Indonesia’s technological self-reliance in the future,” he continued.

This message reflects one of the key meanings of KRTI 2026 for ITK. Behind every aircraft that takes flight lies a long process of designing, testing, encountering failure, improving systems, and trying again. Such a process is important in shaping a generation that is not only capable of using technology, but also confident enough to create and develop it.

As the host institution, ITK views the trust placed in it to organize KRTI 2026 as part of the university’s responsibility to support student talent development and the advancement of science and technology in Indonesia.

“As the host, Institut Teknologi Kalimantan and our entire academic community are fully committed to supporting the development of student talent, innovation, and the advancement of science and technology in Indonesia,” the Rector said.

For ITK, however, KRTI 2026 is not only about technology or about who ultimately stands on the podium. Bringing together students from various universities also creates a broader space for them to connect, exchange experiences, share knowledge, and build relationships that can continue long after the competition ends.

For this reason, the ITK Rector hopes that KRTI will not only produce winners based on competition results, but also strengthen relationships among students and between universities.

“We hope KRTI will not only produce champions on paper, but also foster friendships, collaboration among universities, and strong networks among young innovators from across Indonesia,” he said.

This aspiration positions KRTI as more than an arena for technological competition. It also serves as a meeting point for students who bring different ideas, experiences, and perspectives from various regions of Indonesia.

For ITK, such interaction is important because innovation does not grow in isolation. Technology develops through learning, the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and the courage to explore something new.

Hosting KRTI 2026 therefore carries a special meaning for ITK. The role is not limited to providing a venue for the competition, but also includes creating a space where Indonesia’s younger generation can test their capabilities, expand their networks, and further explore how the technologies they develop can contribute to society.

Ultimately, KRTI 2026 is expected to leave behind more than just a record of which teams became champions. The competition is also expected to generate new experiences, friendships, inter-university networks, and a stronger spirit to continue advancing technology in Indonesia.

For ITK, when the participants return to their respective campuses, they are expected to bring home more than just competition experience. They also carry the belief that the innovations they develop today can become part of the foundation for Indonesia’s technological future.