IO, Surabaya – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya continues to show its seriousness in becoming a research university, this time by officially opening its Science Techno Park (STP) and ITS Incubator. The official opening signified the readiness of STP ITS to support innovation and research, especially in bridging university research with the industrial world.
Construction of the STP ITS started in 2016 with help from the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education. IITS has finished a masterplan of the STP area which covers three study centers from seven study center sectors in ITS: the Maritime Center, Creative Center, and Automotive Center.
According to ITS Vice Rector IV of Innovation, Cooperation, Alumni, and International Relations Prof. Dr. Ketut Buda Artana ST. MS.c., starting from the creation of the STP, research done in ITS is developed through the form of a technology-based company resulting in an innovative ecosystem including academicians, entrepreneurs, government, and the public. “Although there wasn’t adequate infrastructure at the time, it was proven that ITS could create 124 innovative products from downstream student research and lecturers in one year,” said the Ship System Engineering lecturer.
Institutional and Higher Education Technology Science Director-General Dr. Ir. Patdono Suwignjo M.Eng. Sc. Ph.D. explained that ITS was believed to be qualified to create STP as proven by the innovations it has produced from research done in the university, especially as ITS has already become a State University Legal Body (PTN-BH) meaning it must be self-sufficient.
Contributions from the STP are in the form of a start-up company with good economic growth. “The name start-up company means companies which produce and market research which have already become prototypes,” said the ITS Industrial Engineering lecturer.
Patdono explained that the STP did not only bridge innovation which purely came from research but also developed products which have been modified. “For instance, there are products which are traded in other countries, but we have breakthroughs, so those products can be incubated in this STP,” he said.
ITS Rector Prof. Ir. Joni Hermana MS.c ES Ph.D., stated that with the support for innovation through the STP, ITS is hooped to be able to develop other start-ups in other industries besides the creative, maritime, and automotive industry. “ITS will continue to explore beneficial fields which are worthy of being promoted by the STP.”
The rector also stressed that the challenge faced by ITS in the future was no longer to create innovative products but to ascertain how many of those products could enter the global market and work together with industry. “This is in consideration of the large number of final tasks, thesis or dissertations from IITS lecturers and students which are oriented towards products; however, not many have been able to be commercialized,” said the Environment Engineering professor.
In the event, a Memorandum of Understand was signed with ITS and a number of ITS partners concerning education, research, and dedication to the public. Among others working together were Berau District, Sumberglagah Mojokerto General Hospital, PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (G0-Jek & Go-Pay), and Indonesian Actuary Association. (ITS Public Relations)