Yogyakarta, September 24, 2025 — Research Center for Biotechnology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) welcomed a delegation from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen institutional collaboration in research and academic development, while supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through biotechnology-driven innovation.

During the visit, Prof. Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, S.Si., M.Si., presented an overview of the Center’s profile, research directions, and contributions to advancing biotechnology for sustainability. She emphasized the crucial role of biotechnology in addressing global challenges such as food security, public health, and environmental preservation — areas that align closely with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Meanwhile, Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas, S.Si., M.Sc., Head of the Doctoral Program in Biotechnology at UGM, highlighted opportunities for academic collaboration between the two institutions through joint research projects, academic exchange programs, and collaborative publications. According to her, international partnerships play a vital role in building a higher education ecosystem that promotes innovation and sustainability.

The UiTM delegation expressed great interest in developing joint research initiatives, particularly in the areas of environmental and health biotechnology. Both institutions share a common vision to generate innovations with real social and environmental impact, while enhancing their contributions to the global academic community and the attainment of the SDGs within the ASEAN region.

The Biotechnology Study Center of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) organized a Snake Venom Proteomics Workshop on Wednesday–Saturday, 17–20 September 2025, with participants from the research team of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) of the Republic of Indonesia. This activity is part of the Center’s efforts to strengthen proteomics research networks across disciplines and institutions.

The workshop was led by Prof. Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, Head of the Biotechnology Study Center, together with Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas as the main coordinator. Using the snake collection of the Faculty of Biology UGM, the training covered venom milking and handling techniques, as well as the characterization of venom protein components.

• The venom milking technique was directly demonstrated by Dr. drh. Slamet Raharjo, M.P.
• The snake handling technique was guided by Dr. Fajar Sofyantoro.

Following the theoretical sessions, participants carried out practical work on venom protein handling, including protein quantification, characterization using SDS-PAGE, and proteomics preparation at the Biochemistry Laboratory of the Biotechnology Study Center. Further analysis was conducted using LC-HRMS in collaboration with Corpora Science.

This workshop is expected to serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing as well as a form of community service by the Biotechnology Study Center. It also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being): supporting research development on snakebite management for public health.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): strengthening human resource capacity through knowledge transfer and hands-on training.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): fostering research innovation in proteomics and its applications.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): enhancing collaboration across institutions and scientific disciplines.

Through this program, the Biotechnology Study Center of UGM reaffirms its commitment to producing applied research that provides broad benefits for society and advances scientific knowledge.

Written by: Dr. Siti Nurbaiti

From Monday, January 27 to Friday, February 21, 2025, the research team from the Pigmented Rice Research Group, Prof. Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, who also serves as the Head of the Research Center for Biotechnology UGM, and Dr. Siti Nurbaiti, participated in the “Gene Editing for Indica Rice and Excellence Through Stewardship” training at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, the Philippines. This activity is part of the KONEKSI partnership program between Australia and Indonesia, titled “Building a Sustainable Future: Developing Nutritious and Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties.” Previously, in June of the preceding year, the team had the opportunity to attend training and workshops at The ARC Training Center for Future Crops Development, The Australian National University, and The University of Adelaide, and now this collaboration enabled Prof. Yekti and Dr. Baiti to undertake a four-week genome editing training program at IRRI, the Philippines.

In general, genome editing activities at the Rice Breeding Innovation Department of IRRI involve two main laboratories: the Gene Editing and Transformation Lab (GETL), led by Dr. Inez Slamet-Loedin’s team, and the Gene Identification and Validation Lab (GIV), managed by Dr. Sung Ryul Kim’s team. Before engaging directly in laboratory activities, both researchers completed a Good and Safe Laboratory Practice course and studied aspects of Stewardship, Biosafety, and regulations on plant products derived from Plant Breeding Innovations (PBIs) in the Philippines. The initial stages that involved the construction of binary vectors and their transformation into Agrobacterium, were conducted at the GIV Lab. The subsequent phases included plant transformation followed by genotyping and phenotyping analysis, under the supervision of the GETL Lab team. Prof. Yekti and Dr. Baiti also explored seed management, from harvesting to storage techniques, ensuring seed viability is maintained for both daily use and long-term preservation.

The participants also had the opportunity to visit various units and facilities at IRRI, including IRRI Genebank, which houses a diverse collection of cultivated rice varieties as well as wild rice species; Speed Breeding Facilities, which enable studies on rice growth and development under controlled environmental conditions; Regulated greenhouse and screen house facilities, used for genome-edited plants, also non-regulated facilities. Additionally, Prof. Yekti and Dr. Baiti had the chance to engage in discussions with experts in various fields, including Dr. R. Mauleon and Dr. Dmytro Chebotarov in bioinformatics, Dr. Amelia Henry in root system research, and rice breeders from Korea.

As a research center focused on biotechnology, the Research Center for Biotechnology UGM hopes that the knowledge gained from this training can be applied to the development of genome editing research and innovation at UGM. With the continuous advancement of genome editing technology, this program has been highly beneficial in strengthening human resource capacity and biotechnology research infrastructure in Indonesia. Moving forward, the collaboration between The ARC Training Center for Future Crops Development at ANU, UGM, IRRI, and BRIN is expected to continue and expand, particularly in genome editing research for food security and sustainable crop development. Moreover, this initiative paves the way for more partnerships, further enhancing the capacity of Indonesian researchers and supporting the advancement of agricultural biotechnology on a global scale.

Yogyakarta – The Research Center and Study Program of Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held the 10^th National Biotechnology Seminar with the theme “Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions in Biotechnology for Sustainability.” The event, which took place at the Graduate School Unversitas Gadjah Mada on Saturday, October 26, 2024, gathered over 200 participants from 36 different institutions, including academics, researchers, and practitioners.

This seminar highlighted the urgency of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing increasingly complex global challenges, such as climate change, food security, and environmental degradation. “Through an integrated biotechnology approach, we hope to find innovative solutions to ensure sustainability across various sectors, including agriculture, health, industry, and the environment,” said Agung Dian Kharisma, S.Pd.Si., M.Biotech, Ph.D., the seminar’s committee chairperson.

The wide participation reflects the enthusiasm and concern of the academic community, researchers, and practitioners regarding the development of biotechnology and the importance of contributions to sustainability. “We hope that through this seminar, in-depth discussions and cross-institutional collaborations will emerge that can positively impact biotechnology research and implementation in the future,” he added.

Building Interdisciplinary Solutions for Sustainability

Indonesia has significant potential in the field of biotechnology. This potential must be harnessed to address various issues, such as national socioeconomic challenges to provide affordable food for the community and effective medications for various diseases.

The Graduate School Universitas Gadjah Mada strongly supports interdisciplinary approaches to solving problems. In her opening remarks, the Dean of the Graduate School Universitas Gadjah Mada explained that the seminar invited experts in their fields to share innovative solutions in biotechnology applications, ranging from improving food quality to enhancing global health and well-being. “This seminar is a testament to what happens when academics, industry leaders, policymakers, educators, and stakeholders come together under one roof. By sharing insights, expertise, and resources, we can accelerate progress toward a Golden Indonesia by 2045,” stated Prof. Ir. Siti Malkhamah, M.Sc., Ph.D.

The Research Center and Study Program of Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada are committed to continuously contributing to the advancement of science and technology in Indonesia. “In the future, we will continue to organize activities that can facilitate collaboration and the development of human resource capacity in the field of biotechnology,” concluded Agung Dian.

It is hoped that this seminar will serve as a momentum for participants to continue developing research and innovation in biotechnology. With more researchers and practitioners involved, a strong and sustainable innovation ecosystem is expected to emerge in Indonesia. (AR)

Yogyakarta — The Research Center and Study Program of Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held the 10^th National Biotechnology Seminar with the theme “Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions in Biotechnology for Sustainability.” The event took place at the Auditorium of Graduate School Universitas Gadjah Mada on Saturday (November 26, 2024). The seminar attracted over 200 participants from 36 different institutions, including academics, researchers, and practitioners from various fields.

As part of the event, the seminar also featured the launch of a primary synthesis service. This service is a result of collaboration between the Research Center and Study Program of Biotechnology UGM, the Satriabudi Dharma Setia Foundation (YSDS), and PT Widya Teknologi Hayati. The service aims to meet the public’s need for high-quality and competitively priced oligo (DNA/RNA primer) synthesis.

“We have to be proud to be part of history. We now have the first oligo synthesizer in Indonesia,” said Erlina VF Ratu, a mentor at YSDS. The launch of this primary synthesis service is a strategic step to support the development of biotechnology research in Indonesia. “With this service, researchers will no longer struggle to find raw materials for their studies.”

Together Achieving Independence in the Biotechnology Industry

This initiative marks a historic milestone in the national biotechnology landscape, strengthening research and development capacity and supporting the nation’s independence in health technology. With this production line, Indonesia is expected to no longer rely on imported DNA/RNA primers for various research and medical applications, ranging from genetic research and disease diagnosis to the development of gene-based therapies. The presence of this facility is believed to accelerate breakthroughs in biotechnology, particularly in genomics and medical science.

In her remarks, Erlina added that this initiative aligns with the foundation’s vision of cultivating outstanding youth. “We believe that collaboration with UGM and PT Widya Teknologi Hayati will lead us to greater achievements in the development of genomic research capacity in Indonesia. Panin Bank has entrusted its CSR funds to us, and we are sharing this blessing to support the modernization and acceleration of genomic research in Indonesia.”

Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, S.Si., M.Si., Head of the Research Center for Biotechnology UGM, stated that the establishment of this primary production line will strengthen the biotechnology research infrastructure in Indonesia. “This facility is expected to become a center of innovation, enabling researchers to access crucial resources that have been difficult to obtain. With this collaboration, we are on the right track to elevate Indonesian biotechnology to a higher level,” she added.

Echoing this sentiment, the CEO of PT Widya Teknologi Hayati expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. “As a company focused on biotechnology innovation, we are committed to supporting independence in the production of DNA/RNA primers, which will be the backbone of molecular research across various fields,” said Nur Akbar Arofatullah, S.P., M.Biotech., Ph.D.

The cooperation between UGM, YSDS, and PT Widya Teknologi Hayati is expected to not only support independence in the biotechnology sector in Indonesia but also contribute to advancements in science and technology on a global scale. (AR)