The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), proudly hosted the Chemical Engineering Entrepreneurship Festival (CHEEF) 2025, a national-scale event that integrates technological innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep concern for industrial sustainability.
The festival was initiated by the Chemical Engineering Division of the Indonesian Engineers Association (Badan Kejuruan Kimia, Persatuan Insinyur Indonesia / BKK PII) and held in conjunction with the BKK PII Annual Meeting 2025. Carrying the theme “Catalyzing Technopreneurship: Redefining Industrial Landscape Through Entrepreneurial Spirit and Sustainable Innovation,” CHEEF 2025 served as a platform for chemical engineering students to channel their creative ideas and contribute to transforming the industry toward a greener and more sustainable future.
“CHEEF serves as a collaborative space connecting academia, industry, and professional organizations to foster young technopreneurs capable of tackling industrial sustainability challenges. The Faculty of Engineering UI fully supports this initiative as part of our effort to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem within the academic environment,” said Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., Dean of FTUI.
Innovation Competition: Connecting Students with the Industrial World
As the main agenda, the CHEEF Innovation Competition successfully attracted participants from more than 60 universities across Indonesia—from Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, to Nusa Tenggara. Since its opening on May 22, 2025, more than 300 teams consisting of 868 students have registered to compete by presenting innovative solutions in the fields of chemical engineering and technological entrepreneurship.
The competition was divided into three innovation chambers developed in collaboration with strategic industrial partners:
- Eco-friendly Consumer Goods, in collaboration with ParagonCorp
- Low-carbon Energy & CCUS, in collaboration with PT TRIPATRA
- Green Chemical and Agricultural Solution, in collaboration with ZEKINDO
The final round and judging session took place on September 25, 2025, at the Interdisciplinary Engineering (IDE) Building FTUI, coinciding with BKK PII Annual Meeting Day 1. The panel of judges consisted of academics and industrial professionals, including representatives from BRIN, PT Tripatra, PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional, and PT Maharaksa Biru Energi.
Winners of the CHEEF Innovation Competition 2025
After a rigorous selection process and thorough evaluation by academic experts and industrial practitioners, CHEEF 2025 announced the following winners:
Eco-friendly Consumer Goods Chamber
Judges: Prof. Dr. Ir. Tri Yuni Hendrawati, M.Si., IPM., ASEAN ENG (Head of LPPM, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta); Mr. Arief Koeswanto (Secretary General of BKK PII); and Mrs. Anastasia Fitria Dewi (Senior Researcher, BRIN)
- 1st Place: Team Ryu – Institut Teknologi Bandung
- 2nd Place: Team Ulat Podium – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
- 3rd Place: Team Namara – Institut Teknologi Bandung
Low-carbon Energy & CCUS Chamber
Judges: Mrs. Idah Permata Syahri (Head of Process & Process Safety Engineering Department, PT TRIPATRA); Mrs. Ria Kusuma Dewi (Business Unit Manager, PT Zeus Kimiatama Indonesia); Mr. Sahkundiyar (Sr. Specialist Bioenergy, Renewable Energy and Technical Sustainability, PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional); and Mr. Ryan Wiratama Bhaskara (Research Associate, ERIA)
- 1st Place: Team TRIUMPHE – Universitas Indonesia
- 2nd Place: Team Technologia – Institut Teknologi Bandung
- 3rd Place: Team ESPE – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
- The Uprising Team: Team Syntera – Institut Teknologi Sumatera
Green Chemical and Agricultural Solution Chamber
Judges: Mr. Hubert Widiastono (Project Director, PT Maharaksa Biru Energi); Prof. Dr. Rahmayetty, S.T., M.T. (Professor of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa); and Mr. Satriyo Dibyo Sumbogo (Head of Research & Development, PT Zeus Kimiatama Indonesia)
- 1st Place: Team Velocity Rumpita – Institut Teknologi Bandung
- 2nd Place: Team Metalwir – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
- 3rd Place: Team Arcyim – Universitas Indonesia
The winners received prizes, industrial internship opportunities, and an exclusive industrial visit to PLN Indonesia Power Priok UBP to learn firsthand about the application of sustainable energy technologies in industry.
CHEEF 2025 was not only a competition, but also a catalyst for fostering cross-sector collaboration and innovation. Through this event, chemical engineering students were encouraged to design solutions that are not only technically and economically sound but also environmentally and socially sustainable.
“Amid global challenges such as energy transition and climate change, chemical engineering students must become agents of transformation. CHEEF provides both a training ground and inspiration to cultivate globally competitive technopreneurs with a green vision,” added Prof. Kemas.
With the active participation of FTUI, BKK PII, and industry partners, CHEEF 2025 reaffirmed the essential role of engineering higher education in shaping Indonesia’s industrial future—one that thrives on innovation, sustainability, and the values of technopreneurship.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia
