Yogyakarta, April 24, 2025 — The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), welcomed a delegation from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenhan RI) to discuss collaboration on biodiversity management and the strengthening of biodefense. The event, held in the KPTU Meeting Room at the Faculty of Biology UGM, aimed to explore the potential development of Indonesia’s biodiversity in efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of vaccines, and the production of explosive materials from nitrocellulose.
The Kemenhan RI delegation included Afson Riswandi Sirait, S.E., M.Pd. (Head of Research and Development Center for Defense Technology, Balitbang Kemhan), Tri Ambodo, S.T., M.Han. (Head of SDAB Division, Research and Development Center for Defense Technology, Balitbang Kemhan), Drs. Alim Bahri (Research and Development Center for Defense Technology, Balitbang Kemhan), and Suhardi Aji Sriwijayanto, S.E., M.Han. (Research and Development Center for Defense Technology, Balitbang Kemhan).
The delegation was welcomed by several UGM representatives, including Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. (Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM), Prof. Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc. (Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs), Dr. Slamet Widiyanto, M.Sc. (Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources Affairs), Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. (Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs), Ely Susanto, S.IP., MBA., Ph.D. (Director of Planning and Development UGM), Prof. Sang Kompiang Wirawan, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. (Head of the Intellectual Property Management Office UGM), Abdul Razaq Chasani, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D. (Head of the Department of Tropical Biology, Faculty of Biology UGM), Prof. Dr. Ratna Susandarini, M.Sc. (Head of the Plant Systematics Laboratory, Faculty of Biology UGM), Dr. Rury Eprilurahman, S.Si., M.Sc. (Head of the Animal Systematics Laboratory, Faculty of Biology UGM), Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Rahman Siregar, S.Si., M.Biotech. (Head of the Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Biology UGM), Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono, S.Si., M.Si. (Manager of the Tropical Biodiversity Study Center, Faculty of Biology UGM), Almira (Directorate of Business Development UGM), and Dian Astuti (Directorate of Business Development UGM).
The discussion focused on the development of research concerning the utilization of Indonesia’s biodiversity for strengthening biodefense. Afson Riswandi Sirait, S.E., M.Pd. emphasized that the program’s goal is to focus on the prevention and handling of viral pandemics, drawing from the experience of the previous COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the potential development of explosive material precursors from nitrocellulose. This is a critical concern due to Indonesia’s reliance on imports of explosive materials, while domestic production capacity remains limited.
Prof. Budi Setiadi Daryono, Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, welcomed the collaboration. He explained that the Indonesian Biology Consortium (KOBI) has collected more than 13,000 genomic data entries, which are recorded in the Indonesian Biodiversity Index (IBI). The Faculty of Biology UGM has also developed various bioprospecting and biotechnology research, including vaccines and phytopharmaca, and has previously collaborated with the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Siregar, Head of the Microbiology Laboratory at the Faculty of Biology UGM, revealed that vaccine research at UGM is continuously advancing, with a focus on multivalent mRNA-based vaccines for handling DBD virus, as well as Tuberculosis (TBC) vaccines. Meanwhile, Prof. Ratna Susandarini, Head of the Plant Systematics Laboratory, added that her team had conducted studies on cellulose sources and participated in the National Science Expedition (NKRI) between 2015-2017 to explore various plant species with high potential in Indonesia.
Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs at the Faculty of Biology UGM, emphasized that the Faculty of Biology is now one of the leading genome sequencing centers in Indonesia. This strengthens UGM’s strategic role in supporting the national genomic research ecosystem, with sequencing facilities at the Integrated Genome Factory.
Prof. Kompiang Wirawan further added that it is essential to consider intellectual property (IP) protection aspects and collaboration agreements to safeguard the results of defense technology research and the researchers involved. He hopes that in the future, a cross-faculty team at UGM, with the Faculty of Biology as the coordinator, can be formed to support the implementation of joint research with Kemenhan on this topic.
This collaboration is also aligned with UGM’s, particularly the Faculty of Biology’s, commitment to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Faculty of Biology UGM is committed to contributing to the SDGs, particularly in areas related to quality health (SDG 3), life on land (SDG 15), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). Through innovative research and cross-sector collaboration, the Faculty of Biology UGM continues to support science-based solutions to global challenges, such as pandemics and food security, in order to create a more sustainable future for Indonesia and the world.