Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) continues to strengthen its role in building an innovation- and technology-based startup ecosystem through the organization of Demo Day & Ecosystem Mixer 2025, held on Saturday (Dec. 13) at The Jogja Hotel & Conference Center, Yogyakarta.
The event marked the culmination of the pre-incubation program, Innovation Challenge, and the incubation-acceleration funding scheme, Startup Grant 2025, both part of the Promoting Research and Innovation through Modern and Efficient Science and Technology Parks (PRIME STeP) program.
Through this initiative, UGM seeks to nurture startups from the ideation stage through scale-up facilitation to follow-on funding, supported by comprehensive assistance including mentorship, co-working spaces, global networks, and access to UGM’s research and innovation resources.
Acting Director of Business Development at UGM, Professor Sang Kompiang Wirawan, reported that 2025 marks a critical phase in strengthening startup development at UGM.
Under the Innovation Challenge program, more than 58 teams registered, 25 were selected for the pre-incubation stage, and 19 completed the program. Meanwhile, 14 startups were chosen to receive Startup Grant 2025 funding, six of which advanced to the acceleration phase.
“The assistance was carried out intensively through masterclasses, workshops, bootcamps, mentoring, and regular evaluations to ensure startups are ready for market validation, product development, and the strengthening of business strategies,” he explained.
UGM Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Partnerships, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, emphasized that developing an innovation and startup ecosystem is a long-term process that requires consistency and cross-sector collaboration.
According to him, UGM began this journey more than a decade ago and continues to position itself as a driving force for research-based innovation.
“UGM aims to become a melting pot where students, lecturers, alumni, researchers, founders, venture capitalists, and industry partners come together to jointly build innovations that have a tangible impact on society and the nation,” he said.
The government’s commitment to promoting downstreaming of research and strengthening Science and Technology Parks was also underscored by Dr. M. Fauzan Adziman, Director General of Research and Development at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
He stressed that the Demo Day & Ecosystem Mixer is not merely a ceremonial agenda, but a concrete platform where ideas, technology, and investment opportunities converge.
The PRIME STeP program, he noted, is not just a funding scheme, but a transformative platform that encourages universities to play a more active role in building a knowledge and technology-based economy.
“Today, we are witnessing how ideas, technology, and the courage of the younger generation come together with ecosystem support to shape Indonesia’s future. This is the real manifestation of research downstreaming that we continue to promote,” he stated.
Through the organization of Demo Day & Ecosystem Mixer 2025, UGM reaffirms its commitment as an ecosystem builder and a pioneer of technology-based startup incubation within the campus environment.
Carrying the spirit of ‘Grounded Innovation for the Nation’, UGM hopes this initiative will produce outstanding startups that are not only globally competitive but also capable of making meaningful contributions to economic development and public welfare.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Aldi F