Indonesia opens research on music and the brain with big grants

Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is encouraging research into the relationship between music and the brain, noting a lack of existing studies within the country. The government has significantly increased research funding, with Rp3.2 trillion (approximately US$190 million) allocated for 2025, a 218 percent increase from the Rp1.4 trillion available in 2024.

Increased Funding for Indonesian Research

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie stated that while global research on music and the brain exists, no such studies have yet been conducted in Indonesia. The ministry is providing grant funding to support research endeavors, and is also offering incentives to lecturers who receive these grants, amounting to 25 percent of the awarded funds.

Christie highlighted the capabilities of Indonesian lecturers and the government’s commitment to fostering a supportive ecosystem for research. “In Indonesia, we have capable lecturers. We create an ecosystem and provide funding. That is why research grant funding in Indonesia has increased by 218 percent in just one year,” she said.

Researchers are encouraged to explore Indonesia’s rich musical heritage, including traditional instruments like the gamelan, as well as contemporary music trends.

The third workshop on music and the brain, held in collaboration with Tsinghua University and the Tsinghua South East Asia Center, took place at the United in Diversity (UID) Campus Bali, located within the Kura Kura Special Economic Zone (KEK) in Serangan, Denpasar. The workshop provided a platform for professors and art communities to share knowledge regarding the effects of music on brain intelligence.