Yogyakarta, Indonesia (May 6, 2024) – The Institute for Health Modeling and Climate Solutions (IMACS) today announced a new strategic partnership and milestone in the expansion of its ClimateSmart Indonesia Initiative, which was recently launched in partnership with the Indonesian government with the goal to ‘climate-proof’ the national health system. Today’s formal agreement between IMACS partner Kolaborasi Riset dan Inovasi Industri AI Indonesia (KORIKA) and the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical (BMKG), advances plans to apply climate and health data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), to increase Indonesia’s defenses against the current and future health impacts of climate change.

The ClimateSmart Indonesia Initiative, launched in August 2023 by Forecasting Healthy Futures (FHF) and funded by Reaching the Last Mile (RLM) is working to establish an advanced prediction and response system for climate-sensitive infectious diseases in Indonesia, to support evidence-based policies and public health response in the context of climate change.

The new partnership between KORIKA and BMKG builds on the Initiative’s existing collaboration between the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MOH) and IMACS partners FHF, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), and Reaching the Last Mile, to support countries most impacted by climate change in their efforts to build more resilient health systems, by implementing sophisticated systems that use climate and health data to predict and prevent the impact of climate change. 

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, is among the countries most impacted by the climate-driven health crisis. In addition to many other challenges, increasing temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events increase the spread of climate-sensitive diseases like malaria and dengue.

The agreement announced today between KORIKA and BMKG addresses these challenges by combining BMKG’s expertise in climate science, with the AI and data analytics proficiency of the other ClimateSmart Indonesia partners. Together, ClimateSmart Indonesia partners will work to:

• Improve disease prediction models and develop more effective response strategies.
• Empower policymakers and health professionals with actionable insights derived from advanced technological applications and robust meteorological data.
• Enable more efficient resource allocation, timely healthcare responses, and enhanced protection for the nation’s population, especially the most vulnerable communities.

“BMKG is delighted to partner with KORIKA, as our work together fills a critical role in expanding Indonesia’s ability to respond to the complexities of climate on public health,” said Dr. Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, Center for Applied Climate Services, Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG). “Together, we will not only provide necessary early warning systems and climate-informed malaria planning tools, but these efforts are pivotal for our nation's long-term economic stability and social well-being.”

"Artificial Intelligence is uniquely positioned to help deal with the complex challenges of climate,” said Hammam Riza, President of KORIKA (Indonesian Collaborative Research and Industrial Innovation in AI). "As the ClimateSmart Indonesia initiative takes bold strides in advancing AI-empowered climate health solutions, we anticipate groundbreaking impact on our ability to predict and plan for the most formidable health challenges. By leveraging AI insights, we unlock new possibilities for more effective resource allocation, targeted interventions, and proactive responses to emerging disease outbreaks and health threats."

“This expansion of the ClimateSmart Indonesia is a major step toward equipping Indonesian leaders to address the complex interconnections between climate change and public health,” said Dr. Kaushik Sarkar, IMACS Director. “Our disease prediction and planning tools offer a proactive approach to climate-proofing disease control efforts. Indonesia is setting a new global standard for collaborative and technologically advanced responses to climate-related health challenges.”

“AI serves as a powerful tool for health professionals tackling the world’s mounting climate health challenges,” said Dr. Hosni Ghedira, MBZUAI Director of Engagement Services. “At MBZUAI, we are delighted to see the expansion of the ClimateSmart Indonesia Initiative as it will not only better equip the investment in large-scale health solutions but will serve as a paradigm shift in Indonesia’s approach to health systems.”

“As climate change challenges our ability to protect and improve global health outcomes, it’s imperative that we accelerate country-led adaptation measures in response,” said Tala Al Ramahi, Chief Strategy Officer, Reaching the Last Mile. “At Reaching the Last Mile, we are committed to investing in intelligent, data-driven health systems that can better anticipate and offset the impact of rising temperatures on vulnerable communities. With the expansion of the ClimateSmart Initiative, we look forward to working in partnership with Indonesia to help establish a new standard for climate-resilient health systems in the region.”

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About Forecasting Healthy Futures

Forecasting Healthy Futures is a global coalition of leading health and technology organizations committed to mobilizing the political will, financial resources, and innovative solutions needed to protect global health gains from the threats posed by climate change. Malaria No More convenes and leads the consortium, which is funded by Reaching the Last Mile. Forecasting Health Futures’ partners include Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), PATH, the Tableau Foundation, IBM’s Weather Company, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). For more information, please visit: www.forecastinghealthyfutures.org.

About Reaching the Last Mile

Reaching the Last Mile (RLM) is a portfolio of global health programs, investments, and initiatives driven by the philanthropy of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Through innovative and collaborative investments, RLM focuses on advancing health equity, on ending preventable diseases that disproportionately affect impoverished communities, and on building resilient and inclusive health systems that meet the needs of the communities they serve. To learn more, visit : https://www.reachingthelastmile.com  

About KORIKA

KORIKA, Collaborative Research and Industrial Innovation in AI, stands as a pioneering force in advancing the landscape of AI research, development, and innovation within Indonesia. Established in 2021, KORIKA has consistently been at the forefront of catalyzing progress in the field of artificial intelligence. Their dedication to fostering trustworthy AI systems, while respecting the rich cultural and societal values of Indonesia, aligns seamlessly with the nation's ambitious vision of becoming a global innovation powerhouse. KORIKA has become a pivotal hub, bringing together experts, researchers, and industry leaders to collectively drive the growth and application of AI technologies. For more information, please visit: http://korika.id/.

About BMKG

Badan Meteprologi, Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG), the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, is a non-ministerial government institution that provides early information regarding earthquakes, tsunamis and weather and climate conditions. BMKG provides reliable meteorological, climatological, air quality and geophysical information services that are accurate, on target, and effective to the Indonesian population. The agency also coordinates and facilitates activities in the fields of meteorology, climatology, air quality and geophysics and actively participate in international activities in the fields of meteorology, climatology, air quality and geophysics. For more information, please visit: https://www.bmkg.go.id/.

About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)

MBZUAI is a graduate, research university focused on artificial intelligence, computer science, and digital technologies across industrial sectors. The university aims to empower students, businesses, and governments to advance artificial intelligence as a global force for positive progress. MBZUAI offers various graduate programs designed to pursue advanced, specialized knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence, including computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing. For more information, please visit www.mbzuai.ac.ae.