The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), through the Institute for Biosystem and Bioengineering (IBB), hosted the International Workshop on Carbon Cultivation on July 29-30, 2024. This event was the second in the series of the Center of Excellent-NEXT (COEX-NEXT) program, a collaborative research initiative involving institutions from three countries: Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia.
This year, COEX-NEXT 2024 was attended by five delegates from FTUI, 17 delegates from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), four delegates from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), and four delegates from Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). The delegates presented their research projects in the field of Carbon Cultivation and discussed opportunities for collaboration to create innovative solutions for environmental challenges.
Opening the event, FTUI Dean, Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, highlighted the importance of institutional collaboration, particularly in cross-disciplinary and international partnerships. “This event is a significant milestone in our collective efforts to advance knowledge and innovative solutions in Carbon Cultivation. Collaboration between institutions is crucial, especially in cross-disciplinary and international partnerships, to tackle the environmental challenges we face today. I hope participants actively engage in discussions and explore collaborative opportunities.”
Prof. Masafumi Yohda, head of the TUAT delegation and Adjunct Professor at FTUI stated, “International collaboration in ‘Carbon Cultivation’ is essential due to the vast amount of carbon present in the world today. Particularly in Southeast Asian countries, which have abundant biomass potential, biofuel production also holds great promise. Through this collaboration, we aim to improve the outcomes of this research for the benefit of all countries.”
In this workshop, Dr. Muhamad Sahlan, S.Si., M.Eng., Head of IBB, presented the topic “Bioconversion of Palm Oil Solid Residue to Gluconic Acid Using *Gluconobacter Oxydans*: Processes and Potential.” Dr. Dianursanti, S.T., M.T., presented research titled “A Valuable Biomass Source for CO2 Mitigation.” Prof. Dr. Ing. Ir. Misri Gozan, M.Tech., IPU, delivered a presentation on “Development of Zero Waste Processes Chemicals from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch” online. Prof. Dr. Ir. Adi Surjosatyo, M.Eng., presented “Technical and Economic Aspects Analysis of Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) as Bio-Marine Fuel Oil in Jakarta, Indonesia.”
This international workshop is part of the COEX-NEXT program funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The workshop is held over two years, with the first year taking place in Japan and the following year at partner universities. The first workshop series was held in November 2023 at the TUAT Koganei Campus in Tokyo, Japan. This year, the workshop series continued at partner universities in two countries: Indonesia and Thailand. FTUI’s participation in this international workshop stems from collaborations with Japanese professors during the 2022 Asian Federation of Biotechnology event and the 2023 FTUI Quality in Research (QiR) conference.
***
Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia
