In order to become an entrepreneurial university, Universitas Indonesia (UI) strives to foster competitiveness, economic growth, and wealth creation in its academic community in order to produce research and innovations that have high economic value and benefit society. To support this effort, Directorate of Inovation and Science Techno Park Universitas Indonesia (DISTP UI) in collaboration with National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) held a socialization of research and innovation funding for lecturers and students, virtually, on Wednesday (9/2).
This socialization was delivered by Director of DISTP UI Ahmad Gamal, S.Ars., M.Sc., MUP., Ph.D. and Coordinator of the Executive of Preparation for the Formulation and Implementation of Policies and Development of BRIN Funding Programs dr. Diar Wahyu Indriarti, MARS, and guided by Sugeng Supriadi, S. T., M.S.Eng., Ph.D., from Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering UI. This activity was conducted so that research and innovation funding programs run smoothly and become the basis for researchers and lecturers to carry out internal and external programs from relevant ministries and institutions.
In her welcoming speech, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation drg. Nurtami, Ph.D., Sp.OF(K) said, “UI actively encourages for the innovation proposals of the academic community to be supported by BRIN and other funding sources in the form of funding, which is expected to contribute to society. In addition, Prototype Design and Development Funding Program (P5) and P4 are UI’s flagship internal programs that support research to form a innovative climate and ecosystem. UI as an institution that carries out the tridharma of higher education also supports programs that are in accordance with the objectives of the National Priority Program.”
dr. Diar delivered an explanation of National Research Priority (PRN) funding given to institutions/agencies, as the implementation of the National Research Master Plan (RIRN). The 2022-2024 PRN funding covers nine research fields, namely food; energy; health; transportation; engineering; defense and security; maritime; social humanities, education, arts, and culture; as well as multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral. Since December 2021, the research funding scheme from BRIN has been opened throughout the year.
In addition, BRIN, as an institution directly responsible to the president, has prepared six facilitation programs for research purposes, including a screen day facilitation program, a research collaboration center, facilitation of health innovation product testing, national research priorities and Covid-19, expedition and exploration funding, and research-based startup company funding. “In order for the proposal to pass, each researcher should not submit more than two titles. Proposals that contain advanced research are also prioritized for acceptance. In addition, researchers must adjust their research topics to the programs available at BRIN. For researchers who produce innovative products, such as drugs, try to have the proposed products ready,” said Dr. Diar.
Furthermore, Gamal explained the innovation funding support managed by DISTP UI. According to him, the amount of funding facilitated by DISTP UI continues to grow every year. In 2017, DISTP UI’s internal and external funding was only around 10 billion rupiah, while in 2021 it reached more than 55 billion rupiah. The funding resulted in more than 50 innovation products and 14 start-ups in 2021. In addition, DISTP UI also facilitates the development of innovation products. “We are happy to facilitate and help you to develop innovations, then commercialize them to industrial partners or users,” said Gamal.
DISTP UI plays an important role in UI’s efforts towards entrepreneurial university. This is because DISTP UI incubates businesses from innovations produced by researchers. The process includes registration of intellectual property rights, the commercialization process, and licensing to industrial partners. If the innovations produced have large marketing opportunities but require large production capital, the Science Techno Park sub-directorate will license them to industrial partners. Conversely, if the marketing is relatively complex but requires only small capital, the intellectual property will be advised to be commercialized independently by establishing a start-up company.
DISTP UI also provides assistance in writing patent drafts, patent workshops, socialization, and intellectual property registration. The registration process is done digitally. DISTP UI also does not charge service fees and only forwards registration fees to Directorate General of Intellectual Property of Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Author: Almas | Editor: Sapuroh
