Universitas Indonesia (UI) is a pilot project for the “BPOM-Campus: Wellness Entrepreneurship Program” which was initiated by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) of the Republic of Indonesia (RI). This program aims to encourage downstream research to have economic value and develop entrepreneurship in the campus environment. The launch of this program was carried out at the “BPOM-UI: Entrepreneurship Day” activity which was held at the UI Student Activities Center Building, Depok Campus, last Friday (8/12).
BPOM-Campus: Wellness Entrepreneurship Program will be implemented in an integrated manner by the BPOM Technical Implementation Unit with universities throughout Indonesia which have an entrepreneurial university mission. This program encourages entrepreneurship development by building start-up business opportunities in the campus environment so that academics are capable of entrepreneurship and are able to create new jobs for the community.
Plt. Head of BPOM, Dr. Dra. L. Rizka Andalucia, Apt., M.Pharm., MARS, said that this program supports the development of the wellness tourism industry in Indonesia, especially for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the field of natural medicine and cosmetics. According to her, as a country with the second largest biodiversity in the world, Indonesia should be able to process existing plants into herbal medicines, both in the form of herbal medicine and phytopharmaceuticals.
“Collaboration between BPOM and UI is very important because the think tank is here. Product development ideas born from academics and researchers must be utilized so that Indonesia’s biodiversity can be maximized for public health,” said Dr. Rizka.
BPOM-Campus: Wellness Entrepreneurship Program is implemented in various activities. Some of these include technical guidance, onsite assistance, desk consultation regarding compliance with facility standards, and processing product distribution permits. Mentoring is not only provided to academics, but also business actors in campus-assisted programs. This program will also form instructors, cadres, facilitators of natural medicines and cosmetics in the campus environment who will become an extension of BPOM in the community.
UI’s involvement in the BPOM-Campus: Wellness Entrepreneurship Program was welcomed by the UI University Secretary, dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc., Ph.D. According to him, the BPOM program is in line with the implementation of the Three Principles of Higher Education and the transformation of UI towards an entrepreneurial university. “Of course, to move towards an entrepreneurial university, entrepreneurial activities must be carried out by the entire academic community. For this reason, UI provides training to prospective entrepreneurs and provides assistance through business incubator activities. UI is also expanding cooperation with various partners, including BPOM,” he said.
On that occasion, UI also strengthened its partnership with BPOM through a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) on Empowering Communities and Business Actors in the Field of Natural Medicines, Health Supplements and Cosmetics which was signed by Plt. Deputy for Supervision of Traditional Medicines, Health Supplements and Cosmetics, Dra. Reri Indriani, Apt., M.Si., and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy (FF) UI, Prof. Dr. apt. Arry Yanuar, M.Si. The PKS is a follow-up to the 2021 MoU between BPOM and UI concerning Education, Research and Community Service in the Field of Drug and Food Control.
Collaboration between UI and BPOM will cover several scopes, including technical guidance, coaching or consultation to the academic community; business incubators or business operators in the field of implementing standards and business development for natural medicines, health supplements and cosmetics; as well as the formation and empowerment of extension cadre facilitators. Apart from that, this collaboration also covers communication, information and education in related fields; as well as exchanging data or information related to joint activities.
Apart from launching the entrepreneurship program and signing cooperation agreements, BPOM–UI: Entrepreneurship Day activities were also filled with talk shows, workshops and exhibitions. With the theme “Traditional Medicine and Cosmetics Business Opportunities to Support the Development of Wellness Tourism in Indonesia”, the talk show presented speakers, including BPOM’s Main Expert PFM, Reri Indriani and Mayagustina Andarini; Dean of FUI, Prof. Arry Yanuar; Jamu Entrepreneur, Vannesa Ong; and Founder of Café Caraki, Jony Yuwono. Meanwhile, in the workshop activities, three main topics were discussed, namely “Digital Marketing Strategies for Start-Ups”, “Techniques for Compounding and Marketing Modern Herbal Medicine”, and “Techniques for Making and Marketing Natural Cosmetics”.
BPOM–UI: Entrepreneurship Day featured exhibitions from 9 pharmaceutical industries and 10 MSMEs for natural medicines and cosmetics. The nine industries are PT Sinde Budi Sentosa/Acaraki, PT Ultra Sakti, PT Paragon Technology and Innovation, PT Mustika Ratu, PT Kimia Farma, PT Indofarma, PT Bintang Toedjoe, PT Kino Indonesia, and PT Konimex. There are ten MSMEs taking part in this exhibition, namely PT Bio Nature International, CV Ain Elgur, CV Tulus Banyu, PT Unique Herbamed Indonesia, PT Toga Nusantara, PT Rumah Atsiri Indonesia, PT Rumah Kelput Laut, PT Dermixora Morsa Asia, Zahara Natural, and CV IUMI.
