UNS – Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Affairs UNS, Prof. Kuncoro Diharjo opens the Sebelas Maret Startup Academy Program (Semesta) 2021 on Friday (21/5/2021). The inauguration ceremony was held online through the UNS YouTube channel and marks the opening of registration for participants until 9 June 2021.
Semesta 2021 is a series of UNS startup incubation programs from the pre-incubation program by creating a startup ecosystem, implementing grant schemes, developing innovative products, and incubating. This program aims to develop an innovation ecosystem and downstreaming for the results of research and innovation creation from the academic members. “So that it provides benefits for the larger society,” Prof. Kuncoro explained.
Prof. Kuncoro added that the efforts to transform UNS resources into creative and innovative resources. These resources are the key to achieve UNS targets to be ranked 500th globally. Therefore, introducing the best innovation from faculty members, researchers, students, and alumni is vital in the effort. Furthermore, the innovation will provide benefits for UNS and a larger audience in achieving Indonesian economic independence.
“I hope the Semesta Program will bring out new business startups from UNS academic members and alumni, as well as opening new job opportunities,” Prof. Kuncoro added.
Semesta 2021 was developed based on the report from The Global Competitiveness Index 2019, which mentioned that Indonesia has tremendous market potential, but it is not supported by the development of system and innovation and the readiness of such innovation. Therefore Semesta 2021 aims to increase ICT adoption, business climate, and infrastructure for the innovation ecosystem.
Semesta 2021 Program is available for UNS academic members and alumni. However, only students’ proposal is accepted, “because the responsibility should come from UNS academic members,” Professor Kuncoro explained.
The outcome of this program prepares UNS students as human resources in the innovation and innovative products that are ready to be marketed in the community. The program provides funding for a student project that ranges from IDR 25 million to IDR 100 million, and students could gain more significant funding from partners and investors. The grant focuses on seven fields, health, food and agriculture, creative industry and tourism, education, information technology and communication, renewable energy, and social and humanities.
The Major of Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming, attended the opening and started that startup development in Indonesia is enormous with 2,193 startups in 2019 and ranked 5th by Startup Ranking. However, even though startups are prolific in Indonesia, Gibran reminded the existence of death-valley that determine the continuation of startups. “Hopefully, Semesta could strengthen our collaboration,” he added.
Prof. Kuncoro delivered similar hope that Semesta could provide a place for participants to build synergy in building an innovation culture. “We invited participants to continue creating and innovating as the basis of campus life,” Prof. Kuncoro said. He added that creativity and innovation would win the competitive advantage of a country and determine its development. Humas UNS
Reporter: Alinda Hardiantoro
Editor: Dwi Hastuti