Denpasar, Bali – Indonesia is poised to become a hub for groundbreaking research into the connection between music and the human brain, a field currently unexplored within the nation’s academic landscape. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is actively encouraging studies in this area, recognizing a significant gap in existing knowledge.
A surge in research funding aims to unlock the cognitive benefits of music, from gamelan to contemporary trends.
- Indonesia has no prior research on the relationship between music and the brain.
- Research funding has increased by 218 percent, reaching Rp3.2 trillion (approximately US$190 million) in 2025.
- Lecturers receiving ministry research grants are eligible for incentives equal to 25 percent of the awarded funds.
- The nation’s rich musical heritage, including gamelan and contemporary music, provides a unique research context.
“It is indeed not that research on music and the brain is lacking globally, but (in Indonesia) no studies have been conducted yet,” Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie stated at the third workshop on music and the brain on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
A: The Ministry of Higher education, Science, and technology recognizes a unique opportunity to explore the cognitive effects of music, particularly within the context of Indonesia’s diverse musical traditions, and is backing this exploration with ample financial investment.
This push for research is backed by a substantial increase in government funding. Over the past year, research grants have risen by 218 percent, reaching Rp3.2 trillion (around US$190 million) for 2025, compared to Rp1.4 trillion in 2024. “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,” Christie explained.
The ministry is also incentivizing researchers, offering lecturers who receive grants an additional 25 percent of the awarded funds. This financial support is intended to foster a thriving research environment and attract talented individuals to the field.
Researchers are encouraged to explore the full spectrum of indonesia’s musical landscape, from the intricate rhythms of gamelan and other conventional instruments to the evolving trends in contemporary music.This focus on local musical heritage offers a unique opportunity to understand how different musical forms impact brain function.
The workshop, 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. it served as a platform for international professors and art communities to share their expertise on the effects of music on brain intelligence.
Related topics currently under investigation by the ministry include strengthening stroke and brain surgery services and the potential cognitive impacts of early artificial intelligence use, as well as tapping into the growing global music tourism trend.
Worth a look
