Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) encourages its researchers to participate in various research and innovation competitions with a broad global impact.
Their participation is expected to improve innovation quality while also enhancing the university’s global reputation.
The UGM Directorate of Research recently held an information session for the 2025 Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award.
The online event, which took place on Thursday (Apr. 10), was attended by deans, lecturers, researchers, and representatives from the Hitachi Global Foundation.
Professor Mirwan Ushada, UGM Director of Research, appreciated the longstanding collaboration between UGM and Hitachi.
He also shared his reflections on being an alumnus of a former Hitachi scholarship program.
“We are proud of the long-established relationship between UGM and Hitachi. The past scholarship programs opened many doors for our researchers, and this award program continues that spirit in a form with even more direct impact,” he stated.
Professor Ushada also noted that six UGM researchers have received awards from this program in the past two years.
He views UGM’s participation in the program as a major opportunity for the academic community to produce excellent research and translate its findings into real contributions to society.
Through this session, it is hoped that more UGM researchers will be motivated to design academically valuable research that addresses humanitarian and environmental aspects.
“The more participants there are, the stronger the competitive spirit, and from there, the best proposals that can bring change will emerge,” said Professor Ushada.
Teruya Suzuki, a representative from the Hitachi Global Foundation, explained the evolution and goals of the program.
He stated that the Asia Innovation Award was developed to continue Hitachi’s scholarship programs, which have been running since 1967. However, the programs now focus directly on recognizing research achievements in the researchers’ home countries.
Through this approach, Hitachi encourages the practical application of research findings in society, especially those aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The Asia Innovation Award is a concrete appreciation for researchers actively contributing in their respective countries. Through this award, we aim to promote the role of science and technology in achieving sustainable development,” said Suzuki.
Reiko Kasai, who also served as a speaker from the Hitachi Global Foundation, provided a technical explanation of the application process and selection criteria for the award.
She emphasized that the program’s unique value lies in its focus on the social implementation plan for the research outcomes.
Interested researchers are required to select one SDG goal and one of the 169 SDG targets most relevant to their research.
In addition to presenting proof of research achievement (such as publications, patents, or documentation of activities), applicants must also prepare a specific, realistic, and contextual social plan tailored to the target region or community.
“This award not only assesses research achievements but also emphasizes the importance of a concrete plan to apply research results in the real world. We want to see science and technology truly make a positive impact on people’s lives,” said Kasai.
Kasai continued by stating that in 2025, Indonesia will once again be one of the main target countries for this program, alongside Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Four universities and research institutions in Indonesia, including UGM, are eligible to submit proposals.
Each institution may submit up to five proposals. Submissions must be made online through the application system, which opened on Apr. 1 and will close on Jun. 30, 2025.
The program offers three categories: Best Innovation Award, Outstanding Innovation Award, and Encouragement Award.
“The proposals will be reviewed by an independent panel of experts from Japan, and the selection results will be announced in November 2025. The winners will be publicly announced and featured on the official Hitachi website in January 2026,” she concluded.
The UGM Directorate of Research encourages eligible lecturers and researchers not to miss this valuable opportunity to develop research that excels academically and has wide-reaching social implementation potential.
The directorate is ready to provide technical assistance and complete information regarding the application process, selection criteria, and required documents as a form of support.
During working hours, all inquiries and consultation needs can be directed to the Researcher Resource Development Division’s WhatsApp contact at +62 851-8480-7449.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya