Urban Talks is one of the featured programs of Jakarta Future Festival 2026, serving as a panel discussion forum that brings together diverse urban stakeholders to address Jakarta’s strategic issues. Carrying the theme City College: Elevating Cities Through Accelerative Platform, this discussion explores how cities can evolve into living ecosystems of learning globally. In alignment with Jakarta’s direction under Jakarta Rise #20: Society & Workforce, the city aims to strengthen its human capital by expanding access to higher education, aiming to position Jakarta as an attractive destination for global talent. At the same time, advancing research and innovation becomes a critical foundation, driven by stronger collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector. Efforts to increase private sector contribution to R&D, expand the pool of researchers, and strengthen global partnerships with think tanks reflect Jakarta’s ambition to build a dynamic knowledge ecosystem.