UNDIP, Semarang (11/5) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) and PT Symmex Medical Indonesia officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Development of the Tridharma of Higher Education on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Rector’s Meeting Room, Widya Puraya Building, UNDIP Tembalang Campus. The partnership marks a strategic step toward strengthening collaboration between academia and industry, particularly in education, research, community service, and the commercialization of university innovations.
UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si. and President Director of PT Symmex Medical Indonesia, H. Sutarto, S.E., signed the MoU. More than an administrative agreement, the partnership represents an important effort to bridge academic research capabilities with real-world industrial and societal needs. Through this collaboration, UNDIP aims to bring research products developed by its lecturers, students, and academic units closer to production, utilization, and broader development.
In his remarks, Prof. Suharnomo emphasized that a nation’s progress depends significantly on how effectively universities collaborate with industry. He shared insights from visits to universities and companies in China and Taiwan, where strong integration between academia and industry has fostered innovation and economic growth.
“I am delighted to witness this milestone. Six months ago, I visited several universities and companies in China, from Beijing and Shanghai to Tianjin. What impressed me most was how closely universities and industries work together. Company logos are visible on campuses, and university logos appear within companies. This fact strengthened my belief that national progress is only possible when universities become creators of solutions, not merely users of them,” he stated.
UNDIP Rector further highlighted, “I had a similar experience in Taiwan. The campuses are close to industry and the market. Research doesn’t stop at academic reports; it manifests as real products, technologies, and solutions used by the public. The research is alive, the products meet needs, and the downstream results are widely recognized. We want to continue to foster a growth spirit at UNDIP.”
UNDIP has already produced numerous innovations, including health and nutrition products such as Prof Diet, Voca drinking water, and Nutri Sun D3, a locally sourced nutritional supplement designed to prevent stunting. The university has also developed technological innovations such as the Cyborg Insect, a robotic cockroach that has received attention from Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and earned international recognition. According to Prof. Suharnomo, these achievements demonstrate the quality and relevance of UNDIP’s research.
He expressed optimism that collaborations like this one would help move research beyond the laboratory and into large-scale production, creating meaningful impact while nurturing future inventors and innovators. “We want to truly break ground on research products, including through cross-faculty collaborations, such as the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine. Collaboration between universities and industry must be vibrant, strong, and produce beneficial work while also producing superior inventors who can be a source of pride for us all,” said Prof. Suharnomo.
Meanwhile, Sutarto welcomed the partnership and expressed appreciation for UNDIP’s trust in PT Symmex Medical Indonesia as a commercialization partner. “This collaboration is both an honor and a significant responsibility. We are committed to helping bring UNDIP’s research outputs into wider use, particularly in the medical device sector, where they can directly benefit patients and healthcare professionals,” he said.
Sutarto explained that PT Symmex Medical Indonesia is prepared to support the transition of research products to industrial-scale production through validation processes, production trials, and regulatory compliance. With its expertise in manufacturing orthopedic implants and surgical instruments, the company aims to strengthen the development of high-quality, affordable, and competitive domestic healthcare products.
PT Symmex Medical Indonesia currently manufactures a range of products, including nail and wire systems, basic trauma devices, external fixation systems, arthroplasty products, and various surgical instruments. The company is also developing research-based products such as flexible modular external fixation systems, low-profile locking plates, pelvic C-clamps, titanium locking plate systems, megaprostheses for joint replacement, injectable bone grafts, biocomposite scaffolds, and HA-coated implants for arthroplasty applications.
This partnership is expected to strengthen collaboration between UNDIP and PT Symmex Medical Indonesia to advance scientific knowledge, enhance human resource development, and apply research outcomes to address challenges in healthcare, technology, and society. It also reaffirms UNDIP’s commitment to delivering higher education that is not only academically excellent but also capable of generating innovations that create tangible benefits for the wider community. (Public Communication/UNDIP/DHW)