Themed Innovation in Agrotechnology to Support National Sovereignty, an annual event, Industry Research Forum 2019, was officially opened by Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng, IPU, ASEAN Eng., in AMG Tower, Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday (5/11).
The Forum has been organized to encourage opportunities for agricultural researchers and innovators of UGM to get information on policies and programs from the government and ministries, and to open discussions with business partners.
The rector hoped the forum would spur synergy to enhance research, policy, and production in agricultural industry. “This partnership forum between industry and researchers needs to be continuously encouraged considering that the dynamics of the rapidly changing world of agriculture are not only related to efforts to meet the food needs of hundreds of millions of Indonesians, but also related to the issues of pharmaceutical industry, such as cultivation of herbal medicinal plants, climate change, environmentally friendly agriculture, and nationalism,” he said.
He said the academic research would not be useful if not implemented by the industry. On the other hand, the industry that knows the real dynamics in society needs the help of university and research centers to resolve basic problems or those that need implementation.
Therefore, through Industry Research Forum 2019 UGM as a world research university took the initiative in finding a solution to the problems. An example of the cooperation is the seedling research between UGM and PT East West Seed Indonesia, with the establishment of Genetics Bank research center. This research is unique as it engages thousands of UGM students who participate in the Student Community Service projects across Indonesia. They collected local horticultural seeds to be sent to the Genetics Bank.
Another example is between UGM and PT Ciomas Adisatwa that helped build a Post-Harvest Laboratory which is an industrial scale chicken slaughter house. Here members of academic community can study and do research in the chicken industry.
“Obviously, this partnership is supported by the local government with fast issuance of permits, thus, all gets the benefits, whether the university, industry, or local government,” he said.
The rector added that incentives were also needed, such as tax deduction that can encourage the industry collaboration with the university.
Event chairman, Susilohadi, S.Si.,M.Si., Ph.D., said the forum was an annual forum to bring together researchers/innovators, industry, and government. This time it specifically discussed seed industry, fertilizers and feed, IOT for agriculture, machinery, industry incubators, and post-harvest processing industry.
Susilohadi added 43 participants in the forum come from 25 companies and state-owned enterprises. In addition, 32 researchers from UGM and 8 universities in East Java and overseas also participated.
“This is an opportunity to learn about real problems and help find solutions to them. This way, research from UGM can significantly give contributions to agricultural industry and increase in welfare,” he said.
Signing of an agreement was also held alongside the event between UGM and PT Samator, and UGM and PT. Semen Indonesia (Persero).
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/18815-ugm-gelar-industri-riset-forum-2019
