To promote the downstreaming of research and build a technology-based entrepreneurial ecosystem, BPUDL invited 19 young lecturers from each Faculty/School of the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) to visit the Katalis Sinergi Indonesia (KSI) Factory in Cikampek (11/26/2024). This visit was part of ITB Rector Reini Wirahadikusumah’s initiative to bring lecturers closer to the process of research downstreaming, aiming to create tangible impact for industry and society.
The visit was warmly welcomed by the management of KSI factory, along with representatives from PT Rekacipta Innovation ITB (RII), one of the shareholders, and the head of ITB’s Catalysis Engineering Center, Melia Gunawan. In his remarks, the director of BPUDL emphasized the importance of KSI as a national strategic program under President Jokowi’s administration. The factory aims to increase the value of domestic products, reduce import dependency, and promote sustainable economic growth. “This program is a key milestone in developing a research-based catalyst industry in Indonesia. We hope ITB’s young lecturers will be inspired to conduct research that aligns with industrial needs,” said the Director of BPUDL.
KSI Director, Hadiyanto, outlined the challenges faced in managing the factory, including aspects of marketing, market competition, and regulations for state-owned enterprises (BUMN). “Most catalyst sales are currently directed to private companies due to regulatory limitations. We hope that input from these young lecturers can help us address these challenges,” he explained.
The next session featured a presentation by Melia Gunawan, who shared the long journey from ITB research to the establishment of the KSI factory. She highlighted that the factory development was carried out without foreign collaboration, under the spirit of from, by, and for Indonesia“. “The catalyst factory is the tangible realization of the vision of Prof. Subagjo, the pioneer of this research. He always emphasized that research should not stop on paper, but must have a broader impact on society,” said Melia.
As a joint venture, KSI factory is co-owned by ITB through PT RII, alongside two other shareholders, PT Pertamina Lubricants and PT Pupuk Kujang. Beyond earning royalties, ITB actively participates in the factory development, including through catalyst testing facilities still located at the Catalysis Engineering Center’s laboratory on ITB’s campus. This demonstrates ITB’s commitment to maintaining quality and trust with stakeholders.
The visit continued with a tour of the factory, where the young lecturers had the opportunity to observe the production processes and ongoing operations. It is hoped that the visit will broaden the lecturers’ perspectives and encourage them to align their research with industrial needs while enhancing ITB’s contribution to building a technology-based entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“With the involvement of ITB’s young lecturers, we are optimistic that research downstreaming at the university will continue to advance. Collaboration between academia and industry like this is key to creating innovations with a broad impact,” concluded the Director of BPUDL.
