ITS Vice Rector IV Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD (second from left), BTC Founder Dr Ir Arman Hakim Nasution MEng (second from right), and other related officials at the inauguration of BTC in Jakarta

ITS Campus, ITS News – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has strengthened its efforts to support regional development through the inauguration of the Regional Owned Enterprises (BUMD) Transformation Center (BTC). This program, initiated by ITS and its partners, was officially launched on Monday (28/4) at the Raffles Hotel in Jakarta.

ITS Vice Rector IV for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs, Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD, explained that the BTC is a transformation center to boost the performance and competitiveness of BUMDs throughout Indonesia. This initiative was launched due to the need for BUMDs to enhance their contributions to regional development. “We see an opportunity to develop the strengths of BUMDs in the fields of technology, systems engineering, and management,” explained Hatta, as he is commonly known.

The professor from the Engineering Physics Department at ITS revealed that the BTC is built on four flagship programs. The first program is the BUMD Transformation Academy, which focuses on enhancing human resource (HR) capacity in technology, digitalization, and risk management. The second program is the Consultation and Implementation Clinic, which provides direct guidance. “In this program, BUMDs will be assisted in implementing specific innovation-based solutions,” added Hatta.

The third program, continued Hatta, is the BUMD Innovation Laboratory, which serves as an applied research center to address the specific needs of each region. The fourth program is the Transformation Collaboration Platform. This program acts as the hub of the innovation ecosystem between ITS, local governments, and industry.

Vice Rector IV of ITS, Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD, during his opening remarks at the launch of the BUMD Transformation Center (BTC)

On the other hand, BTC ITS Founder, Dr Ir Arman Hakim Nasution MEng, stated that this program is also designed to serve as a bridge between BUMDs, State-Owned Enterprises (BUMNs), and Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes). According to him, this enables the integration of national programs such as food security across various levels. “For example, the national food program will be overseen by food-related SOEs, supported by regional food-related BUMDs, and strengthened by BUMDes,” explained the bespectacled man

Arman mentioned that BTC will soon focus on the food sector, starting with agribusiness. In the future, BTC’s scope will expand to include waste management, service provision, and strengthening regional assets. “We are starting with the food sector to strengthen food security,” said the Head of the Center for Industrial Development and Public Policy Studies (PSPI-KP) at ITS

The ITS Business Management Department lecturer sees the launch of BTC as a step by ITS to realize its commitment to the downstreaming of research and science. Through BTC, ITS is poised to become a strategic partner of BUMD, enabling it to face the challenges of the digital era and industrial transformation. “Let’s create innovative and competitive BUMD for sustainable development,” he said optimistically.

This BTC initiative also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth, Goal 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and Goal 17 on partnerships to achieve the goals. Through the synergy between universities, BUMDs, and industry players, ITS, through BTC, hopes to create an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable regional development ecosystem. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Aghnia Tias Salsabila
Translator: Lael Soebakir