UNM's YESIST12 Pilot Selection Produces Indonesian Representatives for Global Stage
Universitas Nusa Mandiri (UNM), a digital business campus, is fostering globally competitive young innovators through the YESIST12 Pilot UNM 2026. The intensive two-day judging process, held on 8-9 June 2026, concluded with the presentation of numerous technological innovations from students across Indonesia. The event is part of the selection process for the international Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Innovation Talent (YESIST12) competition, providing a stage for young people to present innovative, technology-based solutions relevant to future challenges.
The opening session on Monday (8/6) was attended by participants who passed the initial selection stage. This year, YESIST12 Pilot UNM recorded participation from 23 institutions, including state and private universities, schools, and industry representatives. The competition was divided into five categories: Innovation Challenge (15 participants), Maker Fair (7 participants), Special Track (11 participants), and the WePower and Junior Einstein categories, each with two participants.
Following the opening, Dr. Ali Khumaidi, Pilot of UNM-YESIST12 and Head of the AI Center at Universitas Nusa Mandiri, presented the competition roadmap. Participants then took part in online pitching and judging sessions before a panel comprising academics, industry practitioners, and national policymakers, including Ery Punta from the Deputy of the President’s Special Envoy, Dr. Agus Mulyana from PT Makerindo Prima Solusi, and Risanto Darmawan from PT Spektrum.
The innovations presented covered a wide range of solutions, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, health-tech, environmental management systems, and sustainable food innovations supporting national resilience.
Arif Hidayat, Vice-Rector II for Non-Academic Affairs at UNM, praised the quality of the innovations. He noted a significant increase in both the number of participants and the quality of ideas, many of which demonstrated not only technological excellence but also strong potential for real-world implementation and social impact. He emphasised that UNM, as a digital business campus, encourages students to create works that go beyond academic projects and become tangible solutions for society and industry.
Dr. Ali Khumaidi added that participants showed increasing maturity in integrating technology with real-world needs. He highlighted the strong technological, business model, and social impact approaches of many projects, indicating that young Indonesian innovators are increasingly ready to compete internationally. He stressed that the competition is not just about winning, but about the learning process of validating ideas, receiving expert feedback, and refining innovations for broader benefit.
The jury evaluated participants based on originality, technological innovation, implementation feasibility, business development potential, and socio-economic impact. The top participants selected will represent Indonesia at the international YESIST12 finals scheduled for October 2026, competing with young innovators from various countries. Through YESIST12 Pilot UNM, the university reinforces its role as a digital business campus actively building an ecosystem of innovation, research, and technology, proving that higher education not only produces job-ready graduates but also young innovators and entrepreneurs capable of bringing Indonesian solutions to the global stage.