BRIN Appreciates UMM's Transformation into "Innovation University"

Malang (ANTARA) - The Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Arif Satria, has appreciated Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM)’s ongoing transformation into an Innovation University. In a guest lecture titled “Socialisation of BRIN’s National Research Direction Policy” at UMM’s Senate Meeting Room in Malang on Saturday, Arif stated that UMM is the most aggressive and progressive private university in building concrete collaborations with the industrial world. “I see UMM as the most aggressive and progressive private university in terms of relations with industry. In line with its motto of Independent and Impactful Innovation, this shows strong signs that UMM is transforming into an Innovation University,” said Arif in front of UMM’s leadership and dozens of researchers. According to him, the transition to an Innovation University requires educational institutions not to merely focus on creating basic knowledge (basic research) or building advanced laboratories. Campuses are demanded to strengthen applied research and industrial engagement. Arif explained the urgency of research amid threats of climate crises, geopolitical changes, and massive technological disruptions such as Agentic AI and energy transitions. He openly invited UMM to maximise BRIN’s facilities and utilise joint funding schemes. He also specifically challenged UMM researchers to tackle the processing of critical minerals, such as rare earth contained in the Lapindo mud, given UMM’s strategic operational location in East Java. Responding to BRIN’s challenge and appreciation, UMM Rector Prof Nazaruddin Malik stated that UMM is consolidating all its potential into a Solution Center of Excellence (CoE) ecosystem. “We want to deepen products already in the market, modify them to improve quality and suit industry needs. Currently, the foundation of national economic growth is still fragile, dominated by the consumption sector,” explained Nazaruddin. He emphasised that if universities dare to initiate innovations that strengthen the real sector, such as agricultural industry, local SMEs, and applied technology, campuses can become the locomotive driving economic trends. “Say we push and increase by just 1-2 percent towards an investment-based economic structure based on research and innovation, this nation will surely change rapidly. That’s where UMM is heading,” he said. The strategic collaboration between UMM and BRIN is expected to become an accelerator so that research no longer just piles up in libraries as literature, but is downstreamed into economic and technological solutions for Indonesia’s progress.