On Saturday, July 19, 2025, the Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada successfully held the 9th Seminar Nasional Biologi Tropika (SNBT), which this year was integrated with the Jogja MultiOmics Update (JMU), an initiative by the Integrated Genome Factory (IGF). Taking place at Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas (GIK) UGM, the seminar carried the theme: “Genomic Innovation for Health and Environmental Sustainability”.
This event became a strategic event to strengthen research collaboration across institutions and sectors, along with the rapid development of multi-omics technology and the urgency of its utilization in the tropical context.
In his speech, Dean of Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., emphasized that as a megabiodiversity country, Indonesia has a great responsibility in the development of genomic technology. “We hope this seminar can create strategic synergy, research network formation, as well as policies and curricula that support the advancement of Indonesian tropical science,” he said.
Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, M.Sc., UGM Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Cooperation, said that science-based transformation requires integrative and multidisciplinary approaches. “Genomics is the entrance to answer health, environment, and bioindustry issues scientifically and collaboratively. This forum is a realization of UGM’s spirit to develop solutions from local roots with global standards,” he said.
Director of Kemendikbudristek Resources, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Suning Kusumawardani, S.T., M.T., highlighted the importance of human resource capacity building in genomics and bioinformatics. “We must be the main actors, not just users of technology. Academic and industrial collaboration such as with the Integrated Genome Factory (IGF) is the right step towards sustainable innovation,” she emphasized.
SNBTxJMU 2025 presented 15 national speakers in Lightning Talk and Topic Island sessions, and was attended by more than 200 participants from various backgrounds of students, lecturers, researchers, practitioners, and students from various institutions in Indonesia.
The speakers came from various institutions, including: BB Biomedicine and Health Genomics (BGSi) of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Faculty of Medicine UGM, SITH ITB, BRIN, IPB University, to biotechnology companies such as Nalagenetics and Nusantics. The three main topics discussed in the parallel sessions were Clinical Omics, Plant & Animal Omics, and Environmental & Microbial Omics.
The event also featured a showcase of UGM’s multi-omics technology platform and industry partners, as well as introducing NGS services from IGF. Also supported by PacBio-DKSH Scientific Indonesia, Oxford Nanopore Technology- CV Dynata Creative Image, Shimadzu – PT Ditek Jaya, Sciex-Cytiva PT Laborindo Sarana, Panin Bank and Yayasan Satriabudi Dharma Setia (YSDS), as well as media partners such as Biou.id, Synbio.id, INBIO, Genbinesia, and Block71 Indonesia.
Institutions present included national and international universities such as UI, ITB, IPB, UIN, Khon Kaen University, as well as leading biotechnology institutions and companies in Indonesia such as PT Genetika Science Indonesia, PT Moosa Genetika Farmindo, PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia, PT Bio Farma (Persero), PT Widya Genomic Nusantara, and PT Widya Teknologi Hayati, PT Saraswanti Indonesia Genetech, PT. PathGen Diagnostik Teknologi, and also representative from Indonesian Genomic Association.
SNBTxJMU 2025 activities support the achievement of SDGs, especially SDGs 3 (healthy life) through Clinical Omics innovation, SDGs 4 (quality education) through strengthening academic capacity and curriculum, SDGs 9 (industry and innovation) through collaboration with the biotechnology sector, as well as SDGs 13 and SDGs 15 through Environmental & Microbial Omics sessions that focus on biodiversity conservation and environmental monitoring.
SNBTxJMU 2025 is expected to be an important supporting system in building a sustainable Indonesian genomics and also multiomics research and innovation ecosystem that has a real impact on society and the tropical environment.
Before the closing of the event, the best presenters were announced from the SNBT presenter participants, namely Kinasih Prayuni, M.Si. from Universitas YARSI, and Imam Bagus Nugroho, S.Si., M.Sc. from Faculty of Agricultural Technology UGM. In addition, the best pitching winner from the SNBTxJMU pre-event held by IGF was also announced, namely Assyfa Atha from IGEM UGM and Alim El Hakim from The Master of Medical Science program UGM. In order to enliven the event, appreciation was also given to participants who had participated in uploading stories through the Instagram platform.
The activity was closed by Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, S.Si., M.App.Sc., who also expressed his appreciation for the enthusiasm of the participants and the collaborative spirit that was built during the event. He also invited all participants to return to participate in the upcoming SNBTxJMU in 2026.
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