Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is collaborating with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT-REAP), to drive the commercialization of deep technology research.
This partnership engages 17 partner companies across Indonesia, aiming to foster the downstream of innovative research into industry and deliver direct benefits to the community.
Some of the innovative research areas include the development of hydrogen as a renewable energy source, marine energy development, the application of AI in daily life, the advancement of health tools and technology, and green manufacturing.
Professor Deendarlianto of the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) stated that this collaboration with one of the world’s top universities presents a significant opportunity for UGM to enhance the quality of its research in technological development, particularly in AI, renewable energy, and health technology.
“So, we are studying future technology based on a strong R&D program, collaborating with all stakeholders, including industry. UGM was invited by 17 industries for this collaboration,” Professor Deendarlianto said on Wednesday (May 28).
Champion of MIT-REAP Indonesia, Professor Nizam, underscored the importance of deep technology research for Indonesia’s developmental progress, aiming to achieve high and sustainable economic growth.
The primary prerequisite for impactful deep research, he noted, is the synergistic cooperation between universities and the industrial sector in technology development for industry.
The MIT-REAP program, Professor Deendarlianto explained, emphasizes deep tech, which encompasses current and future technological issues such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) for daily life, green manufacturing, and the utilization of natural potential as renewable energy.
The main research outcomes will form the core for incubating startups that will support industrial and societal progress in Indonesia.
“We are determined to build an integrated roadmap between UGM and industry. So, this is an important opportunity,” Professor Deendarlianto elaborated.
According to Professor Deendarlianto, the market potential for various research products is actually quite significant. However, universities need to partner with industry to help create markets, produce, and distribute products to consumers.
This is crucial because, without further development from the industrial sector, academic research cannot yet contribute meaningfully to societal problems.
One example of research to be undertaken in this program is the study of using aluminum (Al) as a component for power generation.
The effectiveness and efficiency of AI automation systems can be pursued as a control system for power plants, thus minimizing the potential for blackouts.
Another interesting study is metal fuel, an innovation in new and renewable energy that converts metal resources into fuel. Research products are essentially developed to address current and future problems.
When asked about the challenges of commercializing university research, Professor Deendarlianto revealed that the most crucial aspect is the commitment from collaborating parties.
Bringing research results into practical products and to the market is certainly not an easy task, especially if the product is entirely new and unprecedented.
It requires commitment and patience to gradually create a market and ensure the community feels the benefits.
“We hope for this collaboration; not only do we learn from UGM, but we also develop together with MIT. Industry support will also be invaluable in ensuring that research products do not die but proceed to commercialization,” he explained.
To follow up on this industrial collaboration initiative, UGM has already held a symposium and workshop at FT UGM in the Engineering Research Innovation Center (ERIC), engaging 17 industry partners.
These 17 industry partners include Swayasa Prakarsa, Senzo FeinMetal, Global Meditek Utaa, VIAR, and Wijaya Karya Energi.
In the near future, Professor Deendarlianto mentioned, UGM will visit MIT through the MIT-REAP program to support research collaboration that prioritizes technology as its main basis.
“We hope this program can facilitate the research development process until the community and industry can utilize it,” he concluded.
Project Manager for MIT-REAP in Indonesia, Marina Kusumawardhani, stated that they highly welcome the research-industry collaboration initiated by FT UGM, finding it very impressive.
“Although we hope that in the future, this process can be standardized within UGM, and also within MIT for research collaboration with Indonesian universities. So, it will not just be 17 but hundreds of industries and research collaborations in the future.”
Besides research collaboration, MIT-REAP also aims to bring other benefits to UGM and other Indonesian universities, including access to foreign industries and opportunities for foreign investment.
Professor Nizam clarified that MIT-REAP (Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program) itself is an initiative of the MIT Sloan School of Management aimed at accelerating the growth of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems worldwide.
“Within the MIT-REAP framework, collaboration is expected among the five innovation ecosystem stakeholders: academics, industry, government, investors, and entrepreneurs,” Professor Nizam concluded.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian