The Sumitro Fellows Program was initiated in honor of Dr. Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, Indonesia’s senior economist and co-founder of USINDO, who passed away in 2001. An architect of Indonesia’s modern economy, Professor Sumitro headed the faculty of economics at the University of Indonesia, and was later a minister of trade and minister of state for research.

Professor Sumitro was also the driving force behind a 1950’s program of the Ford Foundation which sent Indonesian economists to the U.S. for advanced degrees. Many attended the University of California at Berkeley and the group came to be known as the “Berkeley Mafia” when its members assumed key cabinet posts in subsequent decades.

In an effort to increase the number of academic publications available related to U.S.-Indonesia issues, the Sumitro Fellows Program provided a $10,000 travel/study grant for post-doctoral scholars, PhD candidates, senior academics, and otherwise professionally qualified candidates to engage in field research. One Fellowship was given to a United States citizens/permanent resident for research relating to the political economy of Indonesia. Another fellowship was given to an Indonesian citizen with a project related to the Indonesian-United States relationship.

The Sumitro Fellows Program has benefited a total of 11 Indonesian and American researchers over a period of 6 years. Many of the academic publications created by the Sumitro Fellows have been made available to the public and helped to enhance public understanding of a variety of issues concerning U.S.-Indonesia relations.