The Directorate of Innovation, Sustainable Development, and Science and Technology Park (IPBKST) of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) visited the USU Faculty of Forestry to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide information on Ministry-funded opportunities for research downstreaming proposals.

This activity was part of the Directorate’s efforts to strengthen synergy with faculties across Universitas Sumatera Utara, particularly in promoting the implementation of the SDGs and advancing research outcomes and innovations so that they can deliver broader benefits to society, industry, and national development.

During the visit, members of the Faculty of Forestry’s academic community gained a deeper understanding of the importance of integrating sustainable development principles into education, research, community engagement, and innovation activities. Higher education institutions play a strategic role in supporting the achievement of the SDGs through research and innovations capable of addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges, as well as broader sustainable development needs.

The session also discussed various development opportunities and funding schemes for research downstreaming proposals available to lecturers and researchers. Information on these funding opportunities is expected to encourage members of the academic community to more actively identify research outcomes with the potential to be further developed toward downstreaming and implementation.

During the event, Imam Bagus Sumantri, S.Farm., M.Si., Apt., and Dr. Ir. Rahmi Meilina Sari, S.T., M.M.(T). served as speakers, sharing insights on the SDGs, research downstreaming, and opportunities for innovation development and funding.

Through the presentations, participants were encouraged to recognize that research outcomes hold value beyond academia and can be developed into products, technologies, and solutions that offer added value and tangible benefits. The downstreaming process is an important stage in bridging research outcomes with the needs of society and industry.

For the Faculty of Forestry, strengthening the research and innovation ecosystem offers significant potential to support sustainable development. Research related to forestry, the environment, natural resources, biodiversity, forest product utilization technologies, and sustainable resource management can contribute to the development of innovative solutions that address current development challenges.

The implementation of the SDGs is also one of the key priorities continuously promoted by the USU Directorate of IPBKST. Through this outreach activity, members of the academic community are expected to gain a stronger understanding of the relationship between academic activities and sustainable development targets, enabling higher education institutions to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs in a more focused and measurable manner.

Beyond the presentations, the visit also provided an opportunity to strengthen communication and coordination between the USU Directorate of IPBKST and the Faculty of Forestry. The interaction is expected to open further opportunities for collaboration in developing the faculty’s research and innovation potential, including intellectual property protection, product development, partner identification, and access to various research downstreaming funding schemes.

The synergy established between the USU Directorate of IPBKST and the Faculty of Forestry is expected to strengthen the culture of innovation within the academic community. Lecturers and researchers are encouraged not only to produce high-quality research but also to consider its potential benefits, practical applications, user needs, and opportunities for further development toward downstreaming and commercialization.

This activity also forms part of Universitas Sumatera Utara’s commitment to building an impact-oriented research and innovation ecosystem. With the right support, leading research outcomes from across USU are expected to be developed into value-added products and technologies capable of addressing challenges in society and contributing to industrial advancement.

Through strengthened collaboration between the USU Directorate of IPBKST and the Faculty of Forestry, more research and innovation potential is expected to be identified, developed, protected, and advanced toward downstreaming. These efforts represent a strategic step in reinforcing Universitas Sumatera Utara’s position as a higher education institution that actively generates innovation and contributes to sustainable development.

The USU Directorate of IPBKST will continue to promote synergy with all faculties across the university through outreach, mentoring, facilitation, and the development of collaborative networks. Through sustained collaboration, research outcomes and innovations produced by USU’s academic community are expected to deliver broader benefits to society, businesses and industries, and national development.

The visit to the USU Faculty of Forestry represents a tangible expression of a shared commitment to strengthen the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promote the downstreaming of research outcomes, and build a sustainable innovation ecosystem at Universitas Sumatera Utara.

For more information: www.ipbkst.usu.ac.id

#DitIPBKST #IPBKSTUSU #USU #UniversitasSumateraUtara #FakultasKehutananUSU #SDGs #Hilirisasi #Inovasi #RisetDanInovasi #PembangunanBerkelanjutan