The National Aerospace Laboratory of the Netherlands (NLR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BPPT on Friday 28 June 2013 in the presence of Indonesia’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Mrs L.P. Retno Marsudi. BPPT (Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology) is an Indonesian research institute that employs more than 3,000 people. The MoU primarily expresses both parties’ intention for strategic cooperation in the aerospace field in the five years to come.

NLR and BPPT have been cooperating with each other since 1988 when NLR built a wind tunnel for BPPT’s subsidiary LAGG (Aero-Gas Dynamics and Vibration Laboratory). The low-speed wind tunnel is located in Serpong (Jakarta) and is operated by LAGG. NLR signed a contract with LAGG in March 2013 for modernisation of the wind tunnel and upgrading of the equipment.

The MoU reflects the wish to step up cooperation between the two research organisations. The cooperation will address a number of subjects. Among other things, there will be joint R&D in such fields as aerodynamics, aero-acoustics, advanced materials, aircraft systems, and structure design & testing. NLR and BPPT will also jointly undertake commercial programmes and exchange knowledge of the latest technological developments, facilities, and software.

BPPT-NLR MoU signing

Signing the MoU by Principal Secretary of BPPT, Dr. Ir. Jumain Appe and CEO of NLR, Ir. Michel Peters