Mataram, University of Mataram – University of Mataram (Unram) received a group from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) through the Biodiversity and Environmental Research Organization on Monday (12/6) in the Rector’s Conference Room, 2nd Floor of the Unram Rectorate Building. This meeting  aimed to strengthen research cooperation in the utilization of biodiversity, especially in the Lombok area.

Rector of University of Mataram, Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D on the occasion conveyed the potentials of West Nusa Tenggara, especially those in the Lombok area.

“Lombok has great potential, for example in fisheries, animal husbandry, and the agricultural sector which it still needs to be developed. In addition, there are marginal lands around Lombok that also need to be maximally utilized,” he said.

Furthermore, the Professor of the Faculty of Agriculture explained that there is a type of lowland potato that is more legit but the yield power is high and low. So in this case, technology is needed to obtain stable results.

Prof. Bambang hopes that the collaboration with BRIN through the Biodiversity and Environmental Research Organization can overcome the lack of research infrastructure, namely research tools and analysis processes.

“To follow up on this meeting, we will send several Deans and related study programs to BRIN to further discuss areas of cooperation that can be carried out with BRIN,” he added.

Meanwhile, Head of ORHL’s Biological and Environmental Research Organization, Iman Hidayat said that this meeting was the continuance meeting by BRIN, where the Mataram University’s Rector had previously visited BRIN’s Soekarno KST in Cibinong.

“I have seen by myself the potential in this Lombok area and it is true that the potential is great and we need to develop it together. Regarding the cooperation with UNRAM, it can cover several scopes, including joint research in the field of biology and environment, S2 / S3 schemes to produce local champions, access to research funding, and the use of joint research tools at BRIN,” he said.

Iman added that, in the context of this collaboration, BRIN can provide funding schemes to support this research collaboration and also research tools that is not available at the campus. Whereas,  the Campus has human resources for young talents who become joint research actors with BRIN.

“In total, OR Biology and Environment BRIN has 8 Research Centers that can cooperate in accordance with their respective duties and functions. Hopefully that, the cooperation will be able to optimize biodiversity in Lombok and its surroundings to increase the value of products and the economy of the surrounding community and give birth to local champions from Lombok,” he added.

The meeting was also attended by the Principal Expert of the Biological and Environmental Research Organization Asep Hidayat, Head of the Applied Microbiology Research Center, Head of the Applied Zoology Research Center and Head of the Biosystematics and Evolution Research Center who will follow up in the form of a cooperation agreement.