UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), through its Start-up Business Development and Incubation Board (BPBRIN), has joined forces with the Directorate of Innovation and Science Techno Park (DIKST) Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) to host Sinox-01: Startup and Innovation Expo. Held at Grand City Mall Surabaya on Wednesday (November 20, 2024), the four-day event featured 120 booths showcasing cutting-edge innovations. It provided a strategic platform to accelerate the commercialization of university innovations, bolstering self-reliance within higher education institutions.
The event was attended by UNAIR Vice Rector for Academic, Student, and Alumni Affairs, Prof. Dr. Bambang Sektiari Lukiswanto, DEA, drh; ITS Rector, Prof. Bambang Pramujati, S.T., MSc.Eng., Ph.D.; and ITS Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Partnerships, and Alumni Affairs, Prof. Agus Muhamad Hatta, S.T., M.Si., Ph.D.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Lukiswanto emphasized that this collaboration exemplifies meaningful institutional synergy. “This partnership is a significant step toward national independence. We hope that the downstreaming of university innovations will reduce reliance on imported products,” he stated.
He also stressed the need for a supportive ecosystem to ensure sustainability. “Often, innovations from universities and their partners lack the support of a well-established ecosystem. Sinox-01 serves as a critical step in building that foundation,” he added.
UNAIR and ITS collaborate to drive independence
Event Chair and BPBRIN Head Prof. Nafik Hadi Ryandono, S.E., M.Si., highlighted that effective downstreaming hinges on collaboration between universities. “Pursuing commercialization without collaboration is extremely difficult. We need to set aside individual egos. This is no longer an era of competition but one of collaboration,” he explained.
At Sinox-01, UNAIR launched nine innovative products alongside its new e-commerce platform, TOKOUA, designed to address the high costs of existing platforms. “TOKOUA marks UNAIR’s first step toward independent product marketing while offering a shared solution for all,” said Prof. Ryandono.
Meanwhile, ITS unveiled eight flagship innovations, including a service robot and a teaching factory model. ITS Rector Prof. Bambang Pramujati stressed the importance of moving beyond exhibitions and publications.
If we stop at exhibitions and journals, these innovations will never reach society. The triple helix model—engaging universities, governments, and the public—must be operational,” he stated.
Advancing economic independence for universities
Prof. Pramujati also highlighted the broader vision behind the expo, emphasizing its potential to reduce universities’ reliance on tuition fees. “Currently, most university revenue comes from student tuition and fees. With innovative products like these, we can establish new income streams,” he explained.
The Sinox-01 Expo was not limited to showcasing technological breakthroughs. It also featured activities such as business-matching sessions between startups and investors, demonstrations of ITS’s service robots, chess tournaments, children’s fashion shows, modern dance performances, mobile gaming competitions, and a live performance by East Java’s popular band, Gilcoustic.
Author: Sintya Alfafa
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
