Universitas Gadjah Mada triumphed in second place as an innovative university from the Ministry of Research and Technology and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). In conjunction with the opening of the Innovation Indonesia Expo 2020 on Tuesday (10/11), the award was handed over in Jakarta. This annual exhibition is held in the 2020 National Technology Awakening Day (Hakteknas) celebration sequence.
Besides, the Innovative Higher Education Award Category was awarded to the 1st Rank of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB); and Third Place, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). Meanwhile, the Innovation Management Category was awarded to the first Rank University of Indonesia (UI), second rank Telkom University, and third rank at the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS).
In the middle of the online conference held through video, the Minister of Research and Technology and the Head of BRIN Bambang Brodjonegoro explained that the Indonesian Innovation Award recipients were an effort to provide appreciation. Besides, it is also a form of appreciation for their motivation and inspiration for researchers, scientists, and the public to continue working and contributing to various fields of science and technology.
Dr. Hargo Utomo, as the UGM Director of Business Development and Incubation (PUI), said the government gave this award as a form of appreciation and public recognition of UGM's commitment to innovation development. "UGM is always committed to advancing a strong climate of innovation and implementing a socio-entrepreneurial quality," said Hargo to journalists on Wednesday (11/11).
Hargo also conveyed that he was immensely proud because UGM's great innovation awarded and received appreciation from President Joko Widodo in his opening speech. He once mentioned GeNose products as one of the superior products designed by the UGM's researchers during the pandemic.
"In our nation, there are many innovations in the health sector. Researchers have found that GeNose, which can detect viruses from one's breath, exhaled from the mouth. This result indicates that we indeed have great talents. However, innovation will not easily develop but from a conducive ecosystem," said President Joko Widodo in a video conference at the opening of the Indonesian Innovation exhibition.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Translator: Natasa A