SOE Minister Erick Thohir delivered a scientific oration at the Launching of the ITS Ocean Farm (OFITS) and Padi Ratun R5 Business Initiative Structure at the ITS Robotics Center Building

ITS Campus, ITS News – The number of student innovations that have not been handled further has prompted the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November (ITS) in collaboration with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and the ITS Alumni Association (IKA) to commit to downstreaming the technological work of the ITS academic community. The cooperation was marked by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the three on Saturday (11/12).

Located at the ITS Robotics Center Building, the signing of this MoU was directly carried out by the Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng, and the General Chair of the ITS IKA Central Management (PP) Ir Sutopo Kristanto MM. Also witnessed by the Deputy Governor of East Java, Dr. H Emil Elestianto Dardak BBus MSc.

The MoU will focus on scaling up ITS innovation work towards an industrial scale. Therefore, in this event, various innovative works of the ITS academic community were also exhibited.

ITS Chancellor Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng delivered his remarks at the Launching of the ITS Ocean Farm Business Initiative Structure (OFITS) and Padi Ratun R5

On the same occasion, Erick also gave a scientific oration entitled The Role of BUMN in Downstreaming the Results of Technological Innovation. In his speech, Erick said Indonesia could become the center of the world economy. To achieve this, Indonesia is expected to be able to produce raw materials for finished products so that it is no longer dependent on other countries. “That way, Indonesia does not need to export raw materials and import finished products so that it can improve the economy in Indonesia,” he reminded.

This graduate of National University, California also expressed his appreciation to ITS, which continues to be committed to producing various innovations. Responding to the seriousness of ITS, Erick said his desire to be able to hold an annual forum between ITS and the Ministry of SOEs to discuss the sustainability of the innovation of the ITS academic community. “Without industrialization, innovation will just disappear. With this collaboration, the hope is to increase economic growth and realize a sustainable Indonesia,” he hoped.

General Chairperson of PP IKA, ITS Ir Sutopo Kristanto MM, also delivered his remarks at the Launching of the ITS Ocean Farm Business Initiative (OFITS) and Padi Ratun R5 Business Initiative Structure.

In line with Erick’s statement, the ITS Chancellor, often called Ashari, also expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of SOEs for opening up opportunities for collaboration in the downstream innovation of the ITS academic community. This is not the first time previously ITS has collaborated with several related state-owned companies.

Furthermore, Ashari revealed, ITS will continue to support various innovations from ITS academics. This can be seen from 10 innovation research centers, 5 study centers, and 4 Centers for Science and Technology Areas (KST). “Some of the products produced have been commercialized, one of which is the Gesits electric motorcycle which also cooperates with PT Wijaya Karya and several related state-owned companies,” he said.

ITS Chancellor Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (second from right) and SOE Minister Erick Thohir (second from left) after the signing of the MoU witnessed by the General Chairperson of ITS PP IKA Ir Sutopo Kristanto MM (right) and East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak (left)

Meanwhile, the General Chair of PP IKA ITS explained, to build an industry and scale up products resulting from research and innovation by ITS alumni, IKA ITS has taken several strategic steps. “The business development process from the research and innovation of ITS alumni can be a strategic part of the role of IKA ITS so that it can provide real support for higher education at ITS,” said Sutopo.

Not to be outdone, the Deputy Governor of East Java, Emil Dardak, also expressed his support for ITS, who has continuously contributed to the Indonesian people. According to his narrative, ITS’s contribution has contributed to the success of the East Java Provincial Government program, namely Learning to Innovate in the Village (Belanova), “In the future, it is hoped that this collaboration will continue and provide benefits to the people of Indonesia,” he said.

(from right) ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng, Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, General Chair of PP IKA ITS Ir Sutopo Kristanto MM, and Deputy Governor of East Java Emil Elestianto Dardak visited various exhibitions of ITS innovation work

At the end of the event, Erick also launched the Ocean FarmITS (OFITS) Business Initiative Structure, a breakthrough in the maritime sector, in the form of an aquaculture building with the first floating marine ecotourism in Indonesia. And Padi Ratun R5 in the form of technological innovation in agriculture from IKA ITS to increase food crop production using R5 technology. So that it can increase rice production from the usual two harvests in a year to 4-5 yields.

In the event, Erick Thohir also had the opportunity to review a number of ITS innovation works. These include Ocean Farm ITS (OFITS), Padi Ratun R5, i-Car, Gesits electric motorcycle, Raisa robot, Oxygen Concentrator ITS (Oxits), i-nose c19, CoFilm+, i-Boat, and so on. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Tyara Novia Andhin