The Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Professor Ova Emilia, received a visit from the Minister of National Development Planning (PPN/Bappenas), Professor Rachmat Pambudy, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, aimed to discuss the role of universities in sustainable development.
This meeting marked an important moment to strengthen the synergy between academia and national policy, grounded in more accurate and applicable research while fostering innovation that supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rector Emilia emphasized the significant role of universities in educating the nation’s youth and being a center for the development and research of innovative products.
According to her, the diversity of universities in Indonesia, in terms of scale and age, should now be categorized into anchor universities that partner with the government for development.
“The mandate or specific tasks should not just be competitive. What’s been happening so far is that many activities are competitive, with funds being spent but the benefits unclear,” the rector stressed.
She expressed hope that the discussion between the two institutions could reaffirm UGM’s commitment to producing research and innovation that provide solutions to national development challenges, especially in food sovereignty, independence in pharmaceutical raw materials and medical equipment, energy transition, climate change, and environmental adaptation, and socio-cultural resilience.
“So, we very much hope that the five flagship research programs we’ve been conducting can be further developed and followed through with this discussion,” she said.
Professor Pambudy praised UGM’s initiatives to enhance the quality of education and research at the national and global levels.
According to him, UGM, the oldest university, should be a compass guiding Indonesia’s direction.
He also explained that his visit with the ministry team was to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would expire in March 2025.
The collaboration in the field of tri-dharma (the three pillars of higher education) is expected to be expanded and made concrete, not just through policies or strategies.
“We don’t just plan, but in the process, we must make things happen, and once achieved, they must be useful,” Professor Pambudy explained.
He added that the ministry adheres firmly to the principles of recorded, measurable, and impactful outcomes in every area of cooperation.
All expenditures by the ministry are seen as long-term investments, inseparable from the nation’s development.
“Why did we come to UGM? Naturally, as a university that grew alongside Indonesia’s independence, its nationalism is unquestionable, and as the best university, UGM must have a special role,” he said.
The event continued with a discussion, starting with a presentation by Dr. Hargo Utomo, Director of Business Development and Incubation, about UGM’s research and innovation priorities designed to address sustainable development challenges.
In the field of food, the cultivation of Gamagora 7 rice and its consumption on a national scale has been initiated since 2023 and expanded in 2024 to include 15 districts across Bengkulu, West Java, Central Java, East Java, and West Nusa Tenggara.
Additionally, the development of Super Smart Fertilizer and Gama Cattle offers solutions for enhancing national food sovereignty.
Dr. Utomo also explained the River Restoration Movement, a UGM innovation that aims to conserve water resources and manage sustainable river functions.
“We are also developing the Palapa S-1, an unmanned aircraft designed for various purposes, including mapping, disaster monitoring, forest surveillance, border patrol, and military reconnaissance,” Dr. Utomo explained.
He also highlighted UGM’s success in developing the raw material for paracetamol.
This initiative aims to reduce dependence on imported pharmaceutical raw materials and increase the national pharmaceutical industry’s independence. As of mid-2024, 80-90% of drug raw materials were still imported.
The discussion concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthen cooperation in joint research programs, strategic policy development, and capacity building for human resources, focusing on sustainability.
With this meeting, the ministry hopes that UGM will play an increasingly important role as a center for innovation and solutions to national development challenges and actively contribute to achieving the SDGs in Indonesia.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Lintang
Photographer: Firsto