UNDIP, Semarang (May 26) – The Forum of Vice Rectors for Cooperation Affairs of State Universities throughout Indonesia (FORWAREK) officially held the National Collaboration Dialogue on Monday, May 25, 2026. Conducted virtually starting at 3:30 PM, the strategic meeting featured the theme “Enhancing Collaboration and Consortia between BRIN and State Universities” and aimed to strengthen downstream research and national innovation through more dynamic partnerships. The event brought together FORWAREK executives and members from state universities and arts institutes (ISI) across Indonesia in a virtual gathering. Among those present were Dr. Ruslan H.S. Tawari, S.Pi., M.Si. (Chair of FORWAREK), Prof. Agus Muhamad Hatta, S.T., M.Si., Ph.D. (Secretary General of FORWAREK), and other FORWAREK board members.
Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) was honored to host the 2026 FORWAREK National Collaboration Dialogue. UNDIP Rector, Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., officially opened the event. In his opening remarks, he emphasized his hope that collaboration and consortium initiatives between the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and state universities would not remain merely documented agreements, but would generate concrete programs with tangible benefits for society.
“We live in the era of coopetition—a combination of cooperation and competition. While we compete in the QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education rankings, PIMNAS, and various other arenas, we must also foster a spirit of collaboration. There is little value in competing without direction; the essence lies in moving forward together to improve the quality of higher education in Indonesia,” said Prof. Suharnomo.
Referring to McKinnon’s perspective on leadership, the Rector stressed that leadership is defined by action rather than position. “Leadership is about action, not position. We do not need to wait for a particular title or position before taking initiative,” the Rector stated.
He further highlighted the importance of synergy among universities through the well-known phrase, “Your networking is your currency.”
“Your network is your future asset. If a university fails to build networks, it will face challenges in its development. Through FORWAREK, vice rectors have demonstrated real initiative and commitment to advancing cooperation,” the Rector added.
Chair of the FORWAREK Organizing Committee, Wijayanto, S.IP., M.Si., Ph.D., who also serves as UNDIP Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Public Communication, delivered the committee report and welcomed participants. He emphasized that universities today are expected not only to produce scientific publications but also to ensure that research and innovation translate into real impacts on national development.
According to Wijayanto, Ph.D., the dialogue focuses on accelerating collaboration and consortia between BRIN and universities across Indonesia. “This collaboration must go beyond signing documents or exchanging programs on paper. Its true essence lies in building trust and a shared vision to address real societal challenges,” he affirmed.
FORWAREK Chair Dr. Ruslan H.S. Tawari, S.Pi., M.Si., also expressed appreciation for the participants’ enthusiasm. He thanked all FORWAREK leaders and members from across the country for dedicating their time to advancing Indonesia’s research ecosystem.
“We are fully prepared to facilitate this forum so that it can generate concrete partnership initiatives and strengthen the national research and innovation ecosystem. Your presence today reflects a remarkable collective commitment to reinforcing networks amid the dynamic transformation of higher education,” Dr. Ruslan said.
The main session featured a keynote presentation by the Head of BRIN, Prof. Dr. Arif Satria, S.P., M.Si., entitled “Enhancing Collaboration and Consortia between BRIN and State Universities.” In his presentation, Prof. Arif emphasized that the future of the economy will depend heavily on research, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
“Our economic future will be highly dependent on the strength of research and development (R&D), innovation, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit. The indicators are evident in the Global Innovation Index. Data show that countries with higher innovation index scores tend to have higher GDP per capita and a greater number of universities ranked among the world’s top 200,” he explained.
Prof. Arif also outlined BRIN’s initiatives to strengthen the innovation ecosystem. “BRIN is currently preparing the Indonesia Innovation House as both a showcase and a one-stop service center for business incubation, technology services, consulting, and intellectual property licensing. It will facilitate connections between startups and venture capital firms and angel investors. In addition, we will establish Regional Innovation Houses, where universities will play a crucial role in strengthening local ecosystems so that research can genuinely contribute to regional economic growth,” he said.
He further explained the evolution of higher education institutions through three developmental phases. “First, the Teaching University, which focuses on producing work-ready graduates through relevant curricula. Second, the Research University is dedicated to knowledge creation through advanced laboratories and substantial research funding. The third phase is the Innovation University, characterized by strong industrial engagement, applied research, and the support of Science and Technology Parks as technology incubators. This transition determines the extent to which our research contributes to industrial advancement.”
The inaugural FORWAREK 2026 National Collaboration Dialogue is expected to catalyze sustained and meaningful action. Through strengthened strategic partnerships, Universitas Diponegoro remains committed to working alongside universities throughout Indonesia to realize the nation’s research vision and create greater societal impact. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Riri)
