Cibinong-Bogor. The Faculty of Forestry, Hasanuddin University (Unhas) and the Center for Biomass and Bioproduct Research (PRBB) of the Biological and Environmental Research Organization (ORHL) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have agreed to collaborate in the field of research and development of advanced materials and chemicals based on biomass and sugar palm.
This agreement was contained in the signing of a cooperation agreement which was signed directly by the Head of the Biomass and Bioproduct Research Center of the BRIN Biological and Environmental Research Organization, Dr. Akbar Hanif Dawam A, S.T., M.T. and Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Ir. A. Mujetahid M., S.Hut., M.P. The activity took place starting at 10.00 WITA at the ICC Building in the Soekarno Cibinong Science and Technology Area (KST), Wednesday (12/2/2025).
Starting the activities of Dr. Akbar Hanif Dawam A, S.T., M.T. as Head of the Center for Biomass and Bioproduct Research, the Biological and Environmental Research Organization, BRIN, in his speech said that BRIN has three important roles, namely as an element in realizing science-based policy, a funding agency and an executing agency, partnering with universities to open up opportunities and conducting joint research.
“This cooperation agreement aims to encourage collaboration between the Faculty of Forestry Unhas and the Biomass and Bioproduct Research Center of the BRIN Biological and Environmental Research Organization in contributing to the advancement of science and technology through research activities on the use of chemical components of sugar palm biomass,” explained Akbar Hanif.
Akbar Hanif further said that BRIN, through PRBB, has carried out a lot of research on the topic of biomass. Recently, biomass has become an important raw material to be converted into various products. Potential biochemical production utilizes sugar palm biomass as raw material, as well as bioenergy such as bioethanol.
“Sugar palm is widely available in the Sulawesi area, people use palm fibers such as palm fiber and biopellets. Apart from sugar, palm oil can be used as a raw material for bioethanol. We can look at it from the technological side advanced,” said Akbar.
On the same occasion, the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Unhas, Prof. Dr. Ir. A. Mujetahid M., S.Hut., M.P. In his speech he said that sugar palm products from Sulawesi have great potential for the development of palm sugar, although they have not yet reached bioethanol. Of course, it is very interesting because palm sugar, apart from being used for food, can also be used for energy.
“I hope that this collaboration can run well and provide benefits and positive impacts for both parties in the research and development of advanced materials and chemicals based on sugar palm,” said Prof. Mujetahid.
Furthermore, Prof. Mujetahid said that through PRBB collaboration, BRIN and the Faculty of Forestry Unhas continued to carry out research. So that the output produced can contribute to development and provide solutions such as the potential of palm sugar.
The scope of this collaboration includes research collaboration and publications both internal and involving foreign partners, internships and research for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students and practitioner lecturers and supervision of students’ final assignments. Apart from that, researchers from several foreign universities who will be involved are:
1. Prof. Dr. Aysegul and Prof. Dr. Lutfi OKSUZ from the Department of Chemistry Suleyman Demirel University, Turkiye
2. Prof. Dr. Sanjay MR., King Mangkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand
3. Prof Henri Vahabi, University de Lorriene, France (Fire Retardant)
4. Prof. Hassan el Bari, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco (Bioenergy)
5. Benoit Belleville, ph.D, University of Melbourne (Komposit)
6. Prof. Mohd. Sapuan Salit, Universiti Putra Malaysia (Aren)
7. Dr. Antonio TOMS Polytechnico Rusia
In signing this collaboration agreement, the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry Unhas was accompanied by the Deputy Dean for Partnership, Research, Innovation and Alumni of the Faculty of Forestry Unhas, Syahidah, S.Hut., M.Si., Ph.D.
