UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) shows its commitment and its role in encouraging collaboration and strategic initiatives for the advancement of national research. UNAIR conducted an event titled What’s Up Campus Calls Out, which took place grandly at Airlangga Convention Center (ACC), Campus MERR-C, on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
This event was attended by the university leadership, invited guests, and thousands of students who packed the venue. In this opportunity, UNAIR rector, Prof Muhammad Madyan SE MSi MFin, emphasized the importance of technology adoption, innovation, and strengthening human resources in the era of global competition.
Facing era of change and AI
In his opening remarks, Prof Madyan highlighted the rapid development of technology. He mentioned that the emergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and the dynamic of the global economy have brought about increasingly fierce international competition.
“This condition demands Indonesia to have the ability to adapt, innovate, and create new breakthroughs. Innovation is more than just a technological achievement; it represents a nation’s courage not merely to follow change, but to actively participate in shaping that change itself,” Prof Madyan emphasized.
He added that a nation’s sovereignty is no longer measured solely on geographical strength or natural resource wealth. Beyond that, mastery of science, creativity, and superior human resources became the primary foundation in creating solutions for various nation’s challenges.
Patent license signing
In line with the rector’s directive regarding the importance of research downstreaming, this event marked a historic moment with the signing of a patent license agreement by UNAIR. This signing was witnessed in person by the Indonesian Minister of Law, Dr Supratman Andi Agtas SH MH and accompanied by the Director General of Intellectual Property.
Through this license partnership, UNAIR launched a leading innovation in the health sector: a portable, textile-based, cage-shaped system and phototherapy method for treating jaundice in infants. This innovation is designed specifically to provide a more safe, flexible, and efficient therapy solution for the patients.
This strategic move serves as a clear evidence that the research conducted by UNAIR researchers does not stop at the academic level. Rather, it has successfully been implemented in the medical industry in order to provide direct impact for public health.
Strategic role of the university and collaboration
As one of the best universities in Indonesia, UNAIR plays a strategic role as an intellectual hub and a center for the generation of ideas and cutting-edge research. University, Prof Madyan continued, must not merely produce competent graduates, but must also create impactful innovation.
To achieve this, he emphasized the importance of collaboration between academics, government, industry, and community.
“Collaboration became a key to ensuring the innovations we built do not stop at the academic level, but are able to provide real impact for people’s lives and strengthen the nation’s self-reliance,” he added.
Closing his remarks, Prof Madyan expressed his hope that this What’s Up Campus Calls Out event can create fresh spirits and ideas among all of the UNAIR academic community to continue advancing Indonesia through science and national values.
Author: Fauziah Laili Romadhon
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
