The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI) hosted the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Palm Oil Research Grant (GRS) organized by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) on July 25, 2025. The event was held in a hybrid format, taking place onsite at Room GK.203, FTUI Building, and online via Zoom Meeting.
This monitoring and evaluation activity is part of the quality assurance process for research projects funded by BPDPKS, particularly under the 2023 and 2024 Palm Oil Research Grant programs. The evaluation focused on assessing research progress, methodological effectiveness, potential outputs, and the applicability of research findings in strengthening Indonesia’s national palm oil industry.
A total of nine research teams from various institutions—including Universitas Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Universitas Pertamina, Universitas Pancasila, and Politeknik Media Kreatif—presented their research progress. From FTUI, several research projects were featured, including:
- Dr. Iman Abdullah (GRS K23): Enhancing the Added Value of Glycerol Through Dehydration–Oxidation Reaction into Acrylic Acid
- Dr. Adam Febriyanto Nugraha (GRS K23): Development and Production of Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) Made from Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) for Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable Construction Materials
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Misri Gozan and team (GRS K22): Development of Distillation and Extraction of Furfural Based on Hydrolysis of Palm Empty Fruit Bunches at Pilot Scale
- Dr. Eng. Muhamad Sahlan and Prof. Heri Hermansyah (GRS K22): Integration of Bioproduction Processes of Gluconic Acid and Xylonic Acid as Platform Chemicals Toward a Circular Palm Oil-Based Economy
The BPDPKS Research and Development Committee provided constructive feedback to the researchers. Committee members present onsite included Prof. Dr. Didiek Hadjar Goenadi, Prof. Agus Haryono, Prof. Udin Hasanudin, Dr. Tony Liwang, Dr. Arief RM Akbar, Dr. Aiyen Tjoa, Lila Harsyah Bakhtiar, and Rifan Ardianto, while Dr. Jenny Elisabeth joined virtually via Zoom. The evaluation was conducted comprehensively, covering scientific merit, implementation, and real impact on the national palm oil industry.
The event was officially opened by Mr. Arfie Thahar, Head of the Research Fund Distribution Division of BPDPKS, who highlighted the significance of the Palm Oil Research and Development Program as a key instrument in building synergy between the upstream and downstream sectors of Indonesia’s palm oil industry. “Every year, BPDPKS allocates research funding through two main programs: the Palm Oil Research Grant and the Palm Oil Student Research Competition. This monitoring and evaluation activity serves as an essential mechanism to assess research progress and provide recommendations for sustainability by the Research and Development Committee,” explained Mr. Arfie.
Meanwhile, Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., stated that this initiative aligns with FTUI’s mission to strengthen strategic research that contributes directly to national development. “FTUI is committed to being an active partner in the national research ecosystem, particularly through applied research that supports downstream processing of plantation products and the development of sustainable industries. The Palm Oil Research Grant represents a tangible form of collaboration between academia, government, and industry,” said Prof. Kemas.
In addition to the evaluation sessions, the event also featured in-depth discussions between researchers and evaluators, as well as site visits to laboratories and research locations. Through this activity, it is hoped that stronger synergy will emerge between research institutions and funding agencies to ensure research outcomes deliver real benefits for the development of Indonesia’s palm oil industry amid global challenges.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia
