JAKARTA – The transformation of the palm oil industry is determined by the emergence of new innovations. It also depends on research governance that ensures every study is accountable, of high quality, and ready to be applied. The Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) of Hasanuddin University has consistently applied both, namely innovation and governance. This consistency has been recognized with an award as Institution with the Best Administrative Management from the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) during the 2026 Indonesian Palm Oil Research Week (PERISAI).
The award from BPDP reflects the university’s ability to manage the entire research cycle, from preparing proposals and managing funding to conducting research and reporting on and accounting for research results. This governance is an important foundation so that the resulting innovations can be trusted, developed, and benefit society.
The award was presented by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, accompanied by the BPDP President Director, at PERISAI 2026 in the Flores Ballroom, Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Monday–Tuesday (20–21 July). On behalf of Unhas, the award was received by Faculty of Agriculture lecturer Dr. Ifayanti.
Unhas LPPM Chair Prof. dr. Muh. Nasrum Massi, Ph.D., Sp.MK(K)., explained that the achievement is the result of strengthening the research management system, built step by step over recent years. Besides widening access to various research funding schemes, LPPM has also developed a mentoring system for researchers so that they can meet the standards set by funders.
“From the start, we mapped various research funding opportunities, including the BPDP Palm Oil Research Grant. We invited BPDP to Unhas to explain the research directions needed, then followed up with outreach, coaching, and proposal mentoring so that researchers are ready to compete,” explained Prof. Nasrum.
The mentoring focuses not only on preparing proposals but also on strengthening research governance. LPPM formed an administrative team that assists researchers in managing budgets and preparing progress reports and final research reports. This system is an important part of maintaining accountability while building funders’ trust in the institution’s capacity.
“We always make sure that financial reports and research reports are prepared according to procedure. For us, research administration is not just an add-on but part of the quality of research management. When governance is good, researchers can focus more on producing innovations that are truly useful,” added Prof. Nasrum.
The BPDP Palm Oil Research Grant is one of the competitive research funding schemes in Indonesia. Submitted proposals are assessed on their scientific quality, relevance to the challenges of the palm oil sector, and the prospects for implementing the research results. Unhas LPPM encourages its researchers to develop research oriented toward solving real problems.
Over the past three years, Unhas has continued to participate in the BPDP Palm Oil Research Grant Program. In its first year of participation, two research proposals secured funding. The following year, two proposals again succeeded out of a total of 67 submitted.
For 2026, Unhas submitted 40 research proposals and is now awaiting the selection results, which are scheduled to be announced in December. The smaller number of proposals submitted does not reflect declining interest among researchers but is part of an adjustment to an increasingly competitive selection process. BPDP now places greater emphasis on the quality of proposals, the novelty of innovations, and the potential for implementing research results.
PERISAI is a national forum organized by BPDP for disseminating strategic research results. The forum also strengthens collaboration among universities, research institutions, government, industry, and various stakeholders. Through the forum, research is encouraged not only to produce scientific publications but also to meet the needs of industry and society.
Carrying the theme “Shaping the Palm Oil Industry Ecosystems for a Sustainable Future,” PERISAI 2026 affirmed that the future of the palm oil industry depends on the ability to integrate science, innovation, and technology into plantation practice.
Since the Palm Oil Research Grant Program was launched in 2015, BPDP has supported 466 research contracts involving 109 research and development institutions, 1,873 researchers, and 383 students. The program has produced 395 scientific publications and 84 patents, which form the foundation for developing science and technology in the palm oil sector. (*/mir)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.