27 October 2025
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The FGD was attended by the Director of the Directorate of Internationalization and Global Partnerships, Prof. Dr. Eng. Himsar Ambarita, S.T., M.T., Global Partnerships Manager Prof. Dr. Arida Susilowati, S.Hut., M.Si., representatives from the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Dentistry, as well as researchers and lecturers from various disciplines.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Himsar emphasized that the activity was part of USU’s efforts to strengthen research synergy oriented toward industry needs.
“This 3D Metal Printer facility is not merely research infrastructure, but a strategic asset that can bridge academia and industry. We want USU’s research outputs to be truly utilized and to generate added value in the manufacturing and healthcare sectors,” he stated.
The first day of the FGD focused on mapping research needs and opportunities that could be developed using 3D metal printing technology. Participants discussed the potential applications of the BLT-A160 machine in engineering, medicine, materials science, and precision agriculture. Several collaboration ideas emerged, including the development of agricultural machinery components, medical devices, and lightweight metal-based products for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
A participant from the Faculty of Engineering highlighted that strengthening downstream research should be a top priority.
“We should not stop at laboratory-scale research. With facilities like the BLT-A160, USU has a major opportunity to connect research outcomes with the real needs of national industry,” he noted.
Echoing this view, a participant from the Faculty of Dentistry emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary research involving medical, engineering, and pharmaceutical academics.
“3D printing technology can be utilized for implants, prosthetics, and medical instruments. If managed collaboratively, USU can become a center for biomedical materials development in Sumatra,” she explained.
The second day of the FGD focused on drafting a utilization roadmap and developing more effective management strategies for the facility. Participants also provided input on cooperation schemes that could be implemented between USU and external partners, including industry, research institutions, and local governments.
“The preparation of USU’s research roadmap begins with the integration of roadmaps from 176 study programs and 16 faculties. The main sources include FGD outcomes, the USU Strategic Plan (Renstra) 2025, faculty strategies, and market needs analysis,” explained Prof. Syafrudin, Secretary of the USU Research Institute.
He further emphasized that USU has seven leading research priority areas (TALENTA), which serve as the primary reference in directing research to be more focused, impactful, and oriented toward strengthening institutional competitiveness.
The second day of the FGD also featured two keynote speakers: Prof. Sugeng from IPB University and Prof. Elfahmi from the Bandung Institute of Technology. Both speakers shared insights on the importance of research as the foundation for roadmap development.
“A roadmap is a collection of puzzle pieces that must have a clear direction and objectives. Key stages include identifying existing research profiles as a baseline, selecting high-value and high-impact research, and driving research toward commercialization and societal application,” explained Prof. Elfahmi.
“IPB actively launches flagship research programs to strengthen research branding and public communication. To date, IPB has commercialized 48 research-based products through collaboration with industry and community partners. A partner-needs-based research approach has proven effective in accelerating downstreaming and commercialization,” added Prof. Sugeng.
A representative from the Business and Industrial Sector (DUDI), PT VVF Indonesia, shared challenges faced by the industrial sector, particularly in spare-part fabrication processes. The main obstacle lies in material availability, which often depends on supplies from Jakarta, resulting in delays.
“With facilities like the BLT-A160 3D Metal Printer, we hope to obtain fast and efficient fabrication solutions through collaboration with USU,” the representative stated.
Prof. Himsar closed the event by emphasizing the importance of concrete follow-up actions from the FGD outcomes.
“We want research at USU not only to produce publications, but also innovative products ready for commercialization. Therefore, we will establish a cross-faculty team to coordinate applied research based on the 3D Metal Printer facility,” he concluded.
Through this FGD, USU aims to optimize the function of the BLT-A160 3D Metal Printer as a platform for interdisciplinary research collaboration and as a bridge between academia and industry. This initiative forms part of the university’s strategy to strengthen the role of applied research in driving innovation and national technological self-reliance.
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