MAKASSAR – Amid pressure on industry to improve efficiency while reducing its environmental footprint, research is now expected to go beyond scientific publication. Laboratory findings must be transformed into technologies, empowerment models, and ecological solutions that can be applied directly in the field.
In that spirit, Hasanuddin University (Unhas) and PT. Semen Tonasa have entered into a strategic collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to encourage science-based innovation that meets industry needs while supporting sustainable development.
Unhas Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa emphasized that universities have a responsibility to deliver scientific solutions to the challenges facing industry. In the Rector’s view, research should not stop at academic publication but should become the foundation for innovations that can strengthen national competitiveness.
“Innovation partnerships are very important. No country can achieve economic growth without innovation. That is why universities must be present through research that meets the needs of industry while also benefiting society,” said Prof. JJ.
In addition to research development, the collaboration also broadens Unhas’s contribution to human resource development. One example is a scholarship scheme for academically promising residents of PT. Semen Tonasa’s Ring 1 area (communities immediately around the plant), so that more young people from the local area have the opportunity to pursue higher education at Unhas.
Prof. JJ also proposed developing the Alope Unhas chicken in the PT. Semen Tonasa area in Pangkep Regency. The program, based on breeding research, is expected to become a community empowerment model that uses company land to increase the economic productivity of surrounding communities.
PT. Semen Tonasa President Director H. Anies, S.E., M.M., said the collaboration continues a partnership that has been running in education, research, and community service. Going forward, the collaboration will also be strengthened through the development of ecological innovations, support for greening programs, and sustainable environmental management.
“This collaboration is a continuation of the synergy that has been built so far. Going forward, we want to expand our collaboration not only in education and research, but also to deliver innovations that bring real benefits to industry, the environment, and society,” said Anies.
The collaboration also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through the downstreaming of research and the development of innovation, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening synergy between universities and industry in advancing sustainable development.
The MoU was signed on Monday, 3 August 2026, in the Rector’s Meeting Room on the 8th floor of the Unhas Rectorate Building. Several Unhas officials and officials from PT. Semen Tonasa attended. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to synergy between higher education and industry to produce innovations that not only boost the competitiveness of the industrial sector but also bring real benefits to society and support the sustainable development agenda.(/*aya)
Editor : Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.