UGM has, once again, conducted Industrial Research Forum at UGM Campus Jakarta. The seventh Forum was held on Thursday (5/11) exhibiting research and products in manufacture, infrastructure, and information technology with no less than 19 works being displayed and presented throughout the event.
"Our partners from the industry in attendance can deal with researchers. We hope there will be further cooperations to the research outcomes that have been produced by UGM,” said Ashar Saputra, ST., MT., Ph.D, chairman of the Forum.
Ashar Saputra said research was the initial point for the development of technology. The industry is expected to be able to make use of those. Meanwhile, many in Indonesia have not made the research as their reference for product development and policy making.
"UGM as one of research administrators has the initiave in bringing together research and industry in order that they can both contribute to the progress of society,” said he.
Ashar Saputra explained this year’s theme of the Forum was Accelerated Contribution from UGM to Enhance Nation’s Competitive Power through Manufacture, Infrastructure, and Information Technology. The three are considered important in resolving national problems that have hampered economic growth and prosperity improvement.
"Cooperation between research and industry in infrastructure, manufacture, and information technology is one attempt to take control of effective technology to enhance the competitive power of the nation among the international community,” said Ashar.
During the event, a cooperation agreement was signed between UGM and partners, including with PT. Tata Sarana Mandiri, PT. Wijaya Karya, PT. Wika Konstruksi, and PT Batara.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D, expected the research outcomes exhibited in the Forum would be able to meet market demands. She added the Forum was to facilitate researchers to connect with industrial world, admitting that making mass production of research outcomes is still a haunting problem for higher learning.
Minister for Public Works and Housing, Basuki Hadimulyono, said in the event that the research produced at UGM was expected to benefit the wider public.