The Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics (FSM), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), in collaboration with PT BUCHI Indonesia, held a training session titled “Bridging Fundamentals and Innovation in Preparative Chromatography” on June 17–18, 2025. The 45 participants, including lecturers and final-year students from the Chemistry Study Program at FSM UNDIP, attended the event.
The training aimed to broaden participants’ knowledge of preparative chromatography applications in natural product research while also supporting improvements in laboratory practicums and academic research quality.
This initiative marks a strategic collaboration between academia and industry, highlighted by the placement of a chromatography instrument in FSM UNDIP’s Chemistry Department laboratory for a six-month period. The tool is expected to replace the commonly used open-column method, providing students with hands-on experience using modern compound separation technologies.
The two-day program was structured with distinct focuses. The first day (June 17, 2025) opened with remarks from the Dean of FSM UNDIP, the Head of the Chemistry Department, and the Managing Director of PT BUCHI Indonesia. Presentations followed by two speakers: Dr. Manish Thakur (Business Development Manager for Purification at BUCHI Laboratory Equipment), who discussed global trends in natural product research and opportunities for international collaboration; and Prof. Bambang Cahyono (FSM UNDIP), who explored the complexities of natural product chemistry research and education in Indonesia. An open discussion closed the day, fostering idea exchange and exploring collaborative research possibilities between institutions.
The second day (June 18, 2025) centered on a hands-on session using preparative chromatography equipment. Participants were trained in basic method configuration, automated fraction monitoring, and essential troubleshooting techniques for effective compound separation. The event concluded with a Q&A session and a reflection.
FSM UNDIP welcomed this initiative as part of its commitment to technology-based education and efforts to build internationally competitive research capacity. The event is expected to serve as a springboard for future collaborative research and publications with foreign institutions, particularly in the field of active compound separation from natural products.