JAKARTA — Young corporate talent took center stage at Jakarta’s BRIN Auditorium on May 21, 2025, where the UN Global Compact Network Indonesia (IGCN) launched its SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals (SDGI) 2025, in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The program empowered 94 innovators from 24 teams across 20 companies to develop innovative solutions through cutting-edge technologies, initiatives, and business models. During the half-day event, attendees explored the results of the program’s “Challenge Identification” and “Challenge Definition” phases through an interactive exhibition. The event also brought together industry leaders at the forefront of business sustainability who provided insights and guidance through a keynote address and panel discussions focused on youth-led sustainability initiatives.
“Young professionals bring fresh perspectives that can transform how companies approach sustainability challenges,” said Josephine Satyono, Executive Director of IGCN, who delivered opening remarks at the event. “By fostering creative problem-solving and cross-sector collaboration, the program aims to enhance participants’ professional growth and strengthen the role of young professionals in driving impactful change within their companies.”
The six-month SDGI program cultivates the next generation of sustainable business leaders by equipping emerging professionals with skills to develop and implement innovative solutions aligned with their companies’ sustainability objectives. It responds to the need for accelerated progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on research showing that young professionals increasingly view sustainability as central to their professional identities.
Dr. R. Hendrian, M.Sc., Deputy for Utilization of Research and Innovation, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), delivered the welcoming remarks. “BRIN supports the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals initiative brought by IGCN which has brought the spirit of research to the industry to produce solutions that provide added value to business,” said Dr. Hendrian.
Adding depth to corporate sustainability efforts, the event also featured a panel discussion on “Driving Innovation for the SDGs Through Youth-Led Initiatives,” that invited prominent business and sustainability leaders. Panelists included Y. W. Junardy, IGCN President; Dr. M. Aditya Warman, IGCN VP for Resilient and Inclusive Business; Tommy Tjiptadjaja, Co-Founder and CEO of Greenhope; and Andhina Ratri Aryani, a sustainability specialist from PT Bank Jago Tbk and former program participant.
“This program connects practical links between corporate sustainability commitments and the implementation capabilities of young professionals,” explained Y. W. Junardy. “By connecting these professionals across companies and sectors, we multiply the potential impact of their innovations.”
The event concluded with an interactive exhibition where attendees engaged with innovators about their projects and proposed solutions to sustainability challenges, followed by a solutions development workshop that equipped innovators with practical tools and methodologies to advance their solutions further. With the Government of Indonesia’s backing through BRIN for this SDGI program, IGCN enables companies to convert sustainability pledges into practical actions while developing the next generation of business leaders equipped to address complex environmental and social challenges.
