Semarang – Researchers from UNDIP, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), UGM, UTS, and UNIKA Soegijapranata have launched the Thermophilic Enzyme Research Collaboration Center (PKR). Officially inaugurated on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the Acintya Prasada Building of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics (FSM) at UNDIP, the center aims to foster collaboration among academics and researchers across Indonesian universities and research institutions.
Led by Dr. rer. nat. Anto Budiharjo, a lecturer at FSM UNDIP, the PKR Thermophilic Enzymes is designed to be a platform for collaboration between academics and researchers from various institutions. “The PKR Thermophilic Enzymes serves as a hub for cooperation among academics and researchers from different universities and research institutions in Indonesia,” said Anto Budiharjo.
This research center is also part of a funding scheme from the Deputy of Research and Innovation Facilitation at BRIN, which requires the lead researcher to come from a university. The research activities will focus on accelerating the potential, development, and utilization of Indonesia’s native thermophilic enzymes for a variety of industries, including food, healthcare, cosmetics, energy, and the environment. The goal is for this collaboration to optimize the use of Indonesia’s microbial diversity and strengthen national biotechnology research innovation.
Dr. Ahmad Fathoni, Head of the Applied Microbiology Research Center at BRIN, emphasized the importance of synergy between higher education institutions and research organizations to enhance innovation in biotechnology. “I hope that PKR will serve as a bridge for enzyme researchers in Indonesia, allowing research outcomes to be quickly utilized by society,” he explained. PKR also aims to engage industries to eventually produce or use the enzyme research results. Dr. Ajeng Arum Sari, Director of Research and Innovation Funding at BRIN, expressed hope that the research center would produce significant breakthroughs that could be applied in industries.
At the event, the Vice Chairman of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at UNDIP, Dr. Achmad Zulfa Juniarto MSi Med SpAnd (K) MMR PhD, represented the Rector to officially launch the PKR Thermophilic Enzymes.
Attendees were invited to view a display of research outcomes, including the PET-ase enzyme, a thermophilic enzyme discovered by the research collaboration team that can degrade plastic and has successfully been tested.
In addition, a public lecture was held by members of the Thermophilic Enzyme Research Collaboration Center, including Fina Amreta Laksmi, PhD (BRIN), Maya Fitriana, PhD (UTS), Dyah Wulandari, PhD (Unika Soegijapranata), and Dr. Dewi Seswita Zilda (BRIN). The lecture covered various interesting topics related to thermophilic enzyme research.
The event concluded with a discussion session among researchers from different institutions, focusing on recent research findings and the next steps for innovation in thermophilic enzyme research.
With the establishment of PKR Thermophilic Enzymes, it is expected that various innovations will emerge in the field of biotechnology, particularly regarding the development of enzymes capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, with significant potential for application across various industries, including food, agriculture, and environmental sectors.