As a megabiodiversity country, Indonesia bears great responsibility in developing genomic technology. Therefore, building human resource capacity in genomics and bioinformatics is crucial. This is to develop the potential of biological natural resources for advancements in health and the environment.
This emerged during the 9th National Tropical Biology Seminar (SNBT), themed “Genomic Innovation: Transformation in Health and Environmental Sustainability.” The event took place at the UGM Innovation and Creativity Hub (GIK) on Saturday (Jul. 19).
Director of Resources at the Ministry of Higher Education, Professor Sri Suning Kusumawardani, highlighted the importance of building human resource capacity in genomics and bioinformatics.
“We must be key actors, not just users of technology. Academic and industrial collaboration, such as with Integrated Genome Factory (IGF), is the right step towards sustainable innovation,” Professor Kusumawardani asserted.
A similar sentiment was conveyed by UGM Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Partnerships, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko. He affirmed that science-based transformation demands an integrative and multidisciplinary approach.
According to Dr. Hadmoko, genomics is the entry point for addressing health, environmental, and bioindustry issues scientifically and collaboratively.
“This forum is a tangible manifestation of UGM’s spirit to develop solutions from local roots with global standards,” Dr. Hadmoko said.
Dean of the UGM Faculty of Biology, Professor Budi Setiadi Daryono, stated that this national seminar was collaborated with Jogja MultiOmics Update (JMU).
It serves as a strategic platform to strengthen research collaboration across institutions and sectors. This aligns with the rapid development of multi-omics technology and the urgency of its utilization in tropical contexts.
“We hope this seminar can foster strategic synergy, establish research networks, and develop policies and curricula that support the advancement of Indonesian tropical science,” Professor Daryono noted.
SNBTxJMU 2025 featured 15 national speakers in the Lightning Talk and Topic Island Session. It was attended by over 200 participants from various backgrounds, including students, lecturers, researchers, practitioners, and scholars. They came from various institutions in Indonesia.
The speakers hailed from diverse institutions, including the Ministry of Health, UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, ITB, BRIN, and IPB University. Also included were biotechnology companies like Nalagenetics and Nusantics.
The three main topics discussed in the parallel sessions were Clinical Omics, Plant & Animal Omics, and Environmental & Microbial Omics.
Author: Alena Damaris
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographs: UGM Faculty of Biology