FMIPA UI and the Institute of Science Tokyo Strengthen Life Science Research Collaboration

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI) welcomed a visit from two delegates of the Institute of Science Tokyo, namely Prof. Susumu Kajiwara, Advisor to the President, and Prof. Shun-ichiro Ogura, Associate Professor at the School of Life Science and Technology, on Wednesday (April 1, 2026). The visit aimed to strengthen academic relations through the promotion of the International Graduate Program (IGP-A) and discussions on collaborative research plans, particularly in the field of life science.

In his remarks, Prof. Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D., Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs at FMIPA UI, stated, “The Institute of Science Tokyo was formed from the merger of Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Many UI alumni have pursued further studies there, and we hope this visit can open more opportunities for academic collaboration in the field of life science.”

The promotional session, titled “Advancing Futures: Graduate Scholarship Session, the International Graduate Program (A)” presented various key information, including faculty and school profiles, examples of flagship research, and notable Nobel laureates such as Yoshinori Ohsumi and Hideki Shirakawa. In addition, the session explained the registration scheme for the IGP-A (Integrated Graduate Program) and the available scholarship opportunities.

Prof. Shun-ichiro Ogura emphasized the importance of scholarship opportunities for UI students. “UI students have a significant opportunity to receive the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship from the Japanese government. This scholarship supports studies from master’s to doctoral level over five years, and we hope more ASEAN students will take advantage of it,” he said. The scholarship is awarded to students who pass document and interview screening, providing financial support of approximately 147,000 yen per month.

Following the promotional session, the agenda continued with a strategic discussion on collaborative research plans between FMIPA UI and the Institute of Science Tokyo. The meeting involved FMIPA UI leadership, including Prof. Dr. Ivandini Tribidasari Aggraningrum, S.Si., M.Si., Vice Dean for Resources, Ventures, and General Administration; and Zico Alaia Akbar Junior, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., Manager of the Research Ecosystem and Impactful Science Commercialization.

Prof. Susumu Kajiwara emphasized the importance of external funding to support collaborative research. “External funding is crucial for supporting collaborative research, including through the SATREPS program, which connects Japan with developing countries. Topics such as food safety are highly relevant, and we hope this collaboration can produce impactful research as well as international opportunities for FMIPA UI students,” he said.

The research topics discussed included food safety, aligning with Indonesia’s free nutritious meal program. FMIPA UI plans to map out research topics and prepare proposals to be further discussed in the next meeting.

This collaboration is expected not only to produce impactful research but also to create opportunities for FMIPA UI students to participate in visiting research programs, student exchanges, and other international collaborations in the future.