SURABAYA – The Higher Education for Technology and Innovation (HETI) Asian Development Bank (ADB) Review Session was held at the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) from November 4th to 5th at the ITS Sukolilo Campus in Surabaya. The session highlighted the institution’s collaborative efforts with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as part of the Capacity Building Program. This program aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of ITS staff in the critical areas of innovation and commercialization, which are essential for advancing research outcomes and ensuring their practical impact on both industry and society.
The collaboration between the HETI ADB ITS Project and UTM’s Innovation and Commercialisation Center (ICC) began in November 2022. As part of this initiative, ITS has sent three batches, comprising a total of 47 staff members—both academic and non-academic—since last year to participate in a series of specialized training sessions. These sessions, developed in partnership with UTM ICC, follow the ICCubeX training framework. ICCubeX is an innovative incubation program led by the Director of UTM ICC and supported by various unit managers. It focuses on building essential skills in managing intellectual property, technology transfer, commercialization pathways, and forming industry partnerships.
The ICCubeX modules are designed to equip participants with practical expertise in transforming research into market-ready products and fostering collaborations between universities and industries. The ICCubeX Incubation Program has received several accolades, including a Gold Award during the International New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI) 2024 and a Bronze Award at the 26th Industrial Art and Technology Exhibition & Competition (INATEX) 2024.
During the HETI ADB Review Session, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Noor Azurati Ahmad@Salleh, Director of UTM ICC, presented alongside her team to discuss the program’s outcomes. They highlighted both immediate achievements and long-term impacts. Key improvements included participants’ understanding of Intellectual Property, enhanced capabilities in managing innovation in academic and research environments, and developing a strategic mindset to bring academic innovations to market. The presentation also outlined future plans for the partnership, focusing on expanding training modules and exploring additional opportunities for commercialization and collaboration with the industry in the coming year.
This partnership between ITS and UTM, established within the broader framework of the ADB project, demonstrates a commitment to creating a sustainable innovation ecosystem in the higher education sector. The successful implementation and commercialization of the ICCubeX training program represent a significant milestone, highlighting the importance of cross-institutional collaboration in enhancing capacity building in the region. The hope is that such initiatives will continue to expand, empowering staff and strengthening institutional capabilities for ongoing contributions to technology-driven development.
Author: Ts. Dr. Norhayati Mohamed Noor, UTM ICC Strategic Officer