Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again demonstrated its commitment to enhancing the national innovation ecosystem by hosting the PRIMESTeP 2025 Review Mission at the UGM Innovation and Creativity Hub (GIK UGM) on Monday, Jun. 30, 2025.
The event was initiated by UGM’s Directorate of Business Development and attended by representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, as well as representatives from universities implementing the PRIMESTeP project across Indonesia.
PRIMESTeP (Promoting Research and Innovation through Modern and Efficient Science and Techno Park) is an initiative designed to advance research and innovation capabilities in the field of educational technology in Indonesia.
The program aims to foster collaboration among universities, industry, and government to generate innovative solutions that address challenges in the education sector.
Under the supervision of Kemendiktisaintek, the project also includes a monitoring and evaluation system for grant funding in the mission to develop Science Techno Parks (STP).
Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, Vice-Rector for Research, Business Development, and Cooperation at UGM, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in driving transformation within higher education.
He noted that PRIMESTeP serves as a critical catalyst for amplifying the societal impact of research.
“The presence of all participants today is clear evidence of the shared commitment between the Indonesian Government and international partners, especially ADB, to strengthen innovation across academic institutions,” he said.
Dr. Benny Bandanadjaja, a representative from the ministry, acknowledged in his remarks that this year’s Subproject Delivery Partner (SDP) implementation faced several challenges, particularly in budgeting and adjusting to national efficiency policies.
However, he assured that those issues had been addressed and the funding is now ready for program execution.
He expressed hope that the remainder of the year would be used effectively to implement the core programs.
“We hope UGM’s SDP can serve as a model of best practices for other universities in the future,” explained Dr. Bandanadjaja.
ADB Principal Social Sector Specialist, Fook Yen Chong, praised the progress made by UGM, particularly in providing tangible space and support for startups and young innovators.
He also noted challenges such as the recruitment of consultants and adjusting project performance indicators, but expressed optimism that these would soon be resolved.
He affirmed ADB’s continued support for accelerating research commercialization in higher education institutions.
“We hope all key PRIMESTeP activities will run optimally as originally designed,” said Fook Yen Chong.
He highlighted the importance of flexibility in implementing the program’s design to ensure continued relevance and real impact on the ground.
The ADB representative also urged all partners to look beyond administrative execution and listen closely to the needs and aspirations of researchers and startup founders.
This, he said, aligns with the ADB’s vision to support a resilient innovation ecosystem that is responsive to global challenges.
“We look forward to the outcomes and achievements of the researchers and startups involved,” he added.
Dr. Hargo Utomo, UGM Director of Business Development, explained that UGM is currently building a comprehensive innovation ecosystem that spans from the laboratory to industry.
Through the UGM’s STP, various centers of excellence and prototype units, such as fabrication labs, have been developed to accelerate the commercialization process.
“We work closely with faculties and departments to foster innovation across units and then guide them toward industry through DitPUI and the IP Management Office,” he said.
In his presentation, Dr. Utomo also showcased five leading innovations from UGM researchers: an AI-based ultra-sensitive aroma detector to boost industrial productivity, a portable multispectral prototype for AI-assisted diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a brightening gel made from Calix Pyrogallolarene, enhanced dental restoration using local silk fibers, and ‘Presokazi’ rice produced with smart fertilizers.
The event also featured a Mini Expo where inventors presented their innovative products.
Ten startups incubated at UGM STP also showcased their creations, including Attempe (a healthy non-GMO tempeh), Glucosweet (a natural sweetener from cassava), as well as Banoo and SonusHub (B2B solar panel e-commerce platforms).
Dr. Utomo further elaborated that UGM’s approach to developing STP combines both push and pull strategies to accelerate the commercialization of innovation.
In this model, industry needs to act as drivers to expedite research outcomes to market, without compromising academic quality.
According to Dr. Utomo, time-to-market has become a critical success indicator for innovation, demanding a cultural shift in campus workflows.
“This three-year journey has been a tremendous challenge, and we believe that innovation must be pursued as a combination of sprint and marathon,” he remarked.
Following the presentation session, participants were invited to visit the Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT) and the Wolbachia Building in the UGM STP area to witness first-hand the practical implementation of innovations in the health and agro-industry sectors.
Dr. Utomo described the visit as a tangible demonstration of PRIMESTeP’s impact in bridging research outcomes to commercialization.
At the close of the event, UGM extended its appreciation to ADB and the ministry team for their support and collaboration.
It is hoped that this synergy will continue and lead to more innovative breakthroughs that are relevant and broadly beneficial to society, in line with the direction of the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographs: Directorate of Business Development