Regulation of the Minister of Transmigration Number 3 of 2026 Encouraging Regional Transformation through Research and Scholarship Programs under the Transmigrasi Patriot Program

Introduction

On March 30, 2026, the Ministry of Transmigration (“MoT”) issued a Regulation of the Minister of Transmigration Number 3 of 2026 on Patriot Transmigration (“MoT Regulation 3/2026”). MoT Regulation 3/2026 governs the implementation of the Transmigrasi transformation program, which focuses on the mobilization of human resources with science and technology expertise to various transmigration areas.

In the considering section, the government explains that the Patriot Transmigration program is implemented to support equitable development and enhance community capabilities in transmigration areas through the involvement of human resources with science and technology expertise.Furthermore, MoT Regulation 3/2026 also governs the governance of the Patriot Transmigration program, ranging from implementation methods, inter-party cooperation, and resource mobilization to the application of risk management in the program's implementation.

Key Provisions

Direction, Objectives, and Scope of Program Implementation

Based on Article 3 and Article 4, Patriot Transmigration is a transmigration program that aims to support the development of transmigration areas through community capacity building and the involvement of human resources with science and technology expertise. Article 7 stipulates that the program implementation is conducted through several stages, namely:

1. Planning;

2. Preparation;

3. Implementation;

4. Monitoring and evaluation;

5. Reporting; and

6. Performance assessment.

Furthermore, Article 8 stipulates that the Patriot Transmigration program is implemented through:

1. The Patriot Expedition Team;

2. Patriot Scholarships; and

3. The Patriot Centre of Excellence.

In the planning stage, Article 13 and Article 14 mandate the preparation of strategic plans and technical plans by considering the conditions of the transmigration areas, including potential natural resources, science and technology resource potential, socio-cultural science and technology, social, economic, and environmental potential and developments, as well as local wisdom growing in the transmigration areas. Additionally, program planning must also consider national development directions and the development needs of transmigration areas.

Cooperation and Partnership in Program Implementation

Article 6 and Article 86 stipulate that the Ministry of Transmigration may cooperate with various parties in implementing the Patriot Transmigration program. This cooperation involves:

1. Ministries/agencies;

2. Provincial and regency/city regional governments;

3. Businesses;

4. Science and technology (Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Teknologi, “IPTEK”) institutions;

5. Educational institutions, including Partner Universities;

6. International institutions;

7. Community organizations;

8. Individual groups; and/or

9. Individuals.

Furthermore, Article 17 mandates that the implementation of cooperation in both academic and non-academic fields must be set forth in a memorandum of understanding or a cooperation agreement.

Electronic Systems and Implementing Personnel

The implementation of Patriot Transmigration is conducted through an integrated electronic-based system to support data management and program execution. This system is used to support accountability, interoperability, and data security as governed in Article 15 and Article 18. Additionally, the program's implementing personnel as governed in Article 19 may originate from:

1. Internal or external Civil Servants (Pegawai Negeri Sipil, “PNS”);

2. The Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, “TNI”);

3. The National Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia, “Polri”); and

4. The Transmigration Transformation Project Management Office (“PMO”).

The involvement of the TNI, Polri, and PMO is utilized to support the implementation and management of the program in transmigration areas.

Recruitment Requirements for the Leader and Members of the Patriot Expedition Team

The Patriot Expedition Team is tasked with drafting policy recommendations through the stages of recruitment, briefing, research, studies, and assistance in transmigration areas, as well as reporting as governed in Article 23 and Article 24. Participant registration is conducted through Partner Universities. Furthermore, Article 25 stipulates the requirements for the team leader and team members as follows:

1. Team Leader: must be an Indonesian Citizen or a Foreign National with valid identity, hold at least a master's degree (S2), possess a portfolio of internationally reputable scientific publications, have at least 2 (two) experiences in leading teams related to research, studies, and/or assistance, have received national or international research grants, and be capable of developing ideas as evidenced by a proposal abstract.

2. Team Members: must be an Indonesian Citizen or a Foreign National, hold at least a bachelor's degree (S1) or be a student in at least the 5th (fifth) semester, possess a scientific writing portfolio, and have experience as a team member in research, study, and/or assistance activities.

Working Mechanisms, Rights, and Obligations of the Patriot Expedition Team

Candidate team leaders who pass the administrative verification are required to prepare proposals for research, development, assessment, and/or application as governed in Article 28 and Article 29, which are assessed based on the feasibility of urgency, impact, innovation, accuracy of the technology used, and alignment with national policy directions. After the Minister appoints the Patriot Expedition Team through a plenary meeting, the team is entitled to legal protection and incentives in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations. Additionally, Article 31 stipulates that the team is obliged to maintain the country's reputation, work with discipline, and submit monthly reports and final reports. The research results of the Patriot Expedition Team may subsequently be disseminated through scientific forums or publications and used as material for drafting ministerial policies as governed in Article 40.

Applicant Requirements and Selection Stages for the Patriot Scholarship

The Patriot Scholarship program is intended for participants in bachelor's (S1), applied bachelor's, master's, applied master's, doctoral, and/or applied doctoral programs. Article 44 stipulates that applicants must meet administrative requirements, including being physically and mentally healthy, writing an essay demonstrating a commitment to contribute, having a relevant educational background, and not currently undergoing other education or receiving scholarships from other parties. Furthermore, the selection process as governed in Article 47 through Article 49 is conducted through:

1. Administrative selection;

2. Competency selection, which includes academic potential tests, language proficiency tests, psychological tests, transmigration insights, and national insights; and

3. Physical and mental health selection conducted at official health service facilities.

Orientation, Education, and Service Obligations of Patriot Scholarship Recipients

Patriot Scholarship recipients are required to participate in briefings and field orientations before commencing their studies to identify potential and/or issues in transmigration areas. Furthermore, Article 51, Article 55, and Article 58 stipulate that scholarship recipients must complete their studies according to science and technology standards and perform Service in Transmigration Areas through knowledge spillover activities and direct involvement with the community in transmigration areas. Additionally, scholarship recipients are also required to submit study progress reports as well as weekly, monthly, and final service reports. Article 60 further stipulates that scholarship recipients who have completed all their obligations will be designated as Patriot Scholarship Alumni by the Minister and may choose to reside and become Transmigrants in the transmigration area.

Structure and Institutional Framework of the Patriot Centre of Excellence

Article 61 governs the establishment of the Patriot Centre of Excellence ("CoE") which is under the coordination of the Minister. The Patriot CoE serves as a data center and innovation development hub in the implementation of the Patriot Transmigration program. The structure of the Patriot CoE consists of:

1. Supervisory Board;

2. Expertise and Specialist Board;

3. Leadership Board, consisting of a President Director, Finance Director, and Technical Director;

4. Expertise and specialist units; and

5. Implementing Units.

Furthermore, Article 65 stipulates that the term of office for the leadership board shall be a maximum of 5 (five) years and may be extended for 1 (one) additional term. Additionally, expertise units and implementing units are recruited professionally to support the activities of the Patriot CoE.

Intellectual Property Management and the Impact of the Patriot Centre of Excellence

The Patriot CoE is tasked with synthesizing research, collecting innovation results, and measuring development impacts as governed in Article 69, Article 71, and Article 72. Additionally, the Patriot CoE also manages Intellectual Property Rights (Hak Kekayaan Intelektual, “HKI”) resulting from research through registration, valuation, storage, and legal protection processes. Such HKI may subsequently be distributed commercially or non-commercially to support the industrialization and downstreaming of products in transmigration areas. The results of the HKI investment impact measurement are also evaluated periodically to assess their effectiveness in improving community welfare.

Monitoring, Performance Assessment, and Risk Management

Monitoring and evaluation of program implementation are conducted periodically by the Trans Patriot Secretariat formed by the Minister of Transmigration as governed in Article 79 and Article 85. Additionally, Article 81 mandates the submission of financial reports and performance reports through the electronic system hierarchically to the Minister of Transmigration. In implementing the program, Article 84 also mandates the application of risk management at every stage of activity to support the control of program implementation and continuous service improvement.

Funding Sources and Financial Management

Funding for the implementation of Patriot Transmigration may originate from the State Budget (Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara, “APBN”), Regional Budgets (Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Daerah, “APBD”), and/or other legal and non-binding funding sources as governed in Article 88. Additionally, Article 90 allows for advance payments charged to the APBN before goods and/or services are received for certain urgent activities in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations.

Administrative Sanctions

Article 83 governs administrative sanctions for scholarship recipients, the Patriot Expedition Team, and related parties who violate reporting obligations, forge documents, or misuse incentive funds. These administrative sanctions may take the form of:

1. Verbal warnings;

2. Written warnings;

3. Suspension of incentive payments;

4. Refund of incentive payments for certain components;

5. Revocation of status;

6. Obligation to return received incentives; and/or

7. Blocking from participating in future Trans Patriot implementations.

Transitional Provisions

Article 91 stipulates that the implementation of Trans Patriot must adjust to the provisions in MoT Regulation 3/2026. Such adjustments shall be made no later than 18 (eighteen) months from the date MoT Regulation 3/2026 was promulgated on March 30, 2026.

Closing

MoT Regulation 3/2026 governs the implementation of the Patriot Transmigration program through the Patriot Expedition Team, Patriot Scholarships, and the Patriot Centre of Excellence, which are carried out through the stages of planning, preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and performance assessment, supported by an integrated electronic system and the application of risk management at every stage of activity. In its implementation, the Ministry of Transmigration may cooperate with ministries/agencies, provincial and regency/city regional governments, educational institutions, business entities, international institutions, and other parties through memorandums of understanding or cooperation agreements. MoT Regulation 3/2026 also stipulates the requirements and implementation mechanisms for the Patriot Expedition Team and Patriot Scholarships, including participant recruitment, research proposal preparation, competency and health selection, the performance of service in transmigration areas, and periodic reporting obligations. Additionally, the Patriot CoE plays a role in the management of research results and Intellectual Property, including registration, legal protection, and the distribution of HKI to support industrialization and downstreaming in transmigration areas. In terms of funding governance, program financing sources may originate from the APBN, APBD, and/or other legal and non-binding sources, including the possibility of advance payments for certain urgent activities. Article 83 also governs administrative sanctions for parties that violate reporting obligations, forge documents, or misuse program funds, ranging from warnings to status revocation and blocking from future Trans Patriot implementations. Furthermore, Article 91 provides a transition period of no later than 18 (eighteen) months from the date MoT Regulation 3/2026 was promulgated on March 30, 2026, for the implementation of Trans Patriot to adjust to MoT Regulation 3/2026.