Universitas Gadjah Mada and PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia have agreed on research outcome utilisation to boost industry and economic growth. This was put into writing in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M. Eng., D.Eng., and Director of PT. RNI, Didik Prasetyo, on Tuesday (16/4) at UGM Main Office.
The Rector said UGM as a university had the role to develop sciences and research products that are expected to go downstream to society. “We have plenty of experts and research products which calls for partners in order that the industry may grow,” he said.
He said UGM had business development and incubation centres to downstream innovation products, which either are collaborated with the industry or marketed directly to the society. “Bone growth tools for post-dental surgery and cerebral shunt are already on the market,” he said.
He explained one health tool currently being developed at UGM to be installed on human body was a stent. “It currently undergoes its final phase. We try to produce the stent domestically so we don’t have to import it,” he said.
According to the Rector, the cooperation in research outcomes utilisation like this would benefit UGM because UGM could market it to the wider community. “We may be able to make the product, but we don’t necessarily have to market them by ourselves, hence cooperation with partners,” he said.
Director of PT RNI Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (persero), Didik Prasetyo, said the cooperation in research product utilisation could support the RNI business in agroindustry and industrial area management. “RNI is to become a holding company with 12 subsidiaries and this cooperation may market the joint products,” he said.
Besides, said Didik, the cooperation was expected to support the previous agreement made between State Enterprises Ministry and Higher Learning Directorate in certified apprenticeship programme for students. “The certified apprenticeship programme involves some 9,000 students of which we share 200. I hope there would be UGM students doing the apprenticeship at RNI, or even better after it’s over they can work at RNI,” he said.