Siti Nurkhamidah ST MS PhD (center) with the ITSpa team while exhibiting ITSpa products at Royal Plaza Surabaya

ITS Campus, ITS News — Proving its commitment to developing research-based innovation, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) officially launched a spa salt product called ITSpa as a form of downstreaming research products. The launch of ITSpa was carried out at the 6th Kampoeng Kreasi (PAKASI) Exhibition in 2025 which was held at the Main Atrium of Royal Plaza, late May.

ITSpa Team Leader Siti Nurkhamidah ST MS PhD introduced ITSpa as one of the Higher Education for Technology and Innovation – Asian Development Bank (HETI-ADB) 2024 grant programs with the Appropriate Technology Entrepreneurship Invitation scheme. This product was born from research on salt making technology using the tunnel method implemented in Kusamba, Bali. “From this research, we diversified our products into the health sector by creating spa salt,” she explained.

Furthermore, the woman born in Mojokerto also emphasized that this downstream project does not only rely on one discipline, but is the result of cross-faculty collaboration. Namely between the Faculty of Industrial Technology and Systems Engineering (FTIRS), the Faculty of Marine Technology (FTK), and the Faculty of Creative Design and Digital Business (FDKBD) ITS.

ITSpa products on display at the 6th Kampoeng Kreasi (PAKASI) Exhibition in 2025 at Royal Plaza Surabaya

Each plays a role in the design of production equipment, product formulation, production, packaging and branding, and marketing. This downstreaming effort is also supported by production facilities provided by the Maritime Science Techno Park (STP), which allows the spa salt manufacturing process to be carried out on campus.

The lecturer of the ITS Food Engineering Study Program said that the commercialization of ITSpa is a strategic step in encouraging the downstreaming of research results so that they do not just stop in the academic realm. This product was chosen to be developed as a business because it has a wide market potential in the wellness and self-care sector, which is currently growing rapidly. “In addition, the production process utilizes local ingredients such as sea salt from Madura which is expected to empower the surrounding community,” he said.

ITSpa team selling ITSpa products to one of the customers

Siti explained that this product is made from natural main ingredients such as Madura salt, Himalayan salt, and Epsom salt. These three types of salt are then combined with selected essential oils such as lavender, jasmine , rose , peppermint , and lemongrass , each of which has an aromatherapy function. The mixing process considers the ideal dosage that is effective in terms of function, safe for the skin and provides a refreshing spa experience at home at a relatively affordable price.

This ITS Chemical Engineering S1 alumnus also revealed the ITSpa development team’s plan to continue designing various derivative products that are still in the natural ingredient-based body care line. Among the product plans to be developed are natural soap bars , bath bombs with aromatherapy bubble effects, and scrubs for skin exfoliation that support a complete relaxation experience.

ITS students introducing ITSpa products to exhibition visitors at Royal Plaza Surabaya

Not only does it contribute to strengthening campus innovation, this product also supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . The SDGs in line with this are point 3 on Healthy and Prosperous Life, point 8 on Local Economic Growth, point 5 on Gender Equality, and point 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

More than just a product, Siti hopes that ITSpa can provide social and economic impacts, especially for local salt farmers involved in the raw material supply chain. “We want to encourage research-based entrepreneurship so that it doesn’t just stop in the laboratory, but is truly present and has an impact on society,” said Siti optimistically. (ITS PUBLIC RELATIONS)

Reporter: Aulia Okta Wijaya
Translator : Devinka Mutianeira