Universitas Indonesia (UI) increased the number of professors from the Faculty of Engineering (FT), after inaugurating three professors yesterday morning (Wednesday, 20/9) at the Convention Hall, UI Depok Campus. UI Rector Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., led the inauguration ceremony which was broadcast virtually via the Universitas Indonesia YouTube channel and UI TV.
One of the professors who was inaugurated, Prof. Dr. Yudan Wulanza, S.T., M.Sc., was appointed as Professor in the field of Biomechanical Technology. During the inauguration procession, he delivered an inauguration speech regarding the development of biomechanical science and its role in other fields of application, with the title “Crossing Boundaries with Biomechanical Innovation”.
Prof. Yudan said, biomechanics is the study of the mechanical aspects of living organisms, including humans and animals. Researchers in the field of biomechanics generally use physics and engineering principles to analyze and model these biological processes. Currently known applications of biomechanics are improving athletic performance (sports science), ergonomic product design, understanding injury mechanisms, and developing medical devices such as prosthetics and orthopedic/dental implants.
Several developments in bioengineering-biomechanical technology that aim to improve the quality of life have begun to enter the testing phase in humans and are expected to be present on a massive scale in the next 10-20 years. Implants become more comfortable to use in terms of precision workmanship with additive manufacturing, safer and friendlier because they use materials that can be absorbed by the body.
Prof. Yudan said that Indonesia is one of the world’s largest markets with the fourth largest population and has attractive growth potential for the medical equipment industry. “What an opportunity for the development of national biomechanical products. Aside from political will, this would be impossible without the readiness of the golden generation of Indonesian inventors in the field of bioengineering-biomechanics,” said Prof. Judan.
According to him, there are three strategic pillars for the world of education to realize this golden generation, the first is collaborative multidisciplinary research. Through this cross-disciplinary and institutional collaboration, we can fulfill the preparation of national product standards and product testing as well as fulfill policy studies to strengthen national products.
Second is the teaching industry platform, which can transform intellectual property rights (IPR) into commercial products through industry and produce credible medical device IPR at the national or regional level. Lastly, the socio-entrepreneurship outreach program, namely a program that introduces new innovative products to the community directly with the involvement of the community and partner industries. Apart from that, to introduce research centers and innovation centers to the wider community.
Realizing innovative products is not easy but not impossible, he said. Superior talent and facilities, leadership support, as well as government regulatory support, will increase the chances of success for this innovation. “We have succeeded in conducting joint research (multi-faculty and multi-institution) and clinical colleagues from RSCM/RSUI/other partner hospitals, some of whom are Masters and Doctoral students with a joint supervision scheme,” said Prof. Judan.
One of the successful innovation products departed from the story of the 2020 pandemic. The challenge at that time was to address the limited global supply of Covid-19 test sample collection equipment for national needs. “Finally we succeeded in distributing 600,000 units of product or the equivalent of 6 billion rupiahs to various health centers in mid-2020,” said Prof. Judan. One of the processes for making this product was inspired by the method of forming substrates in tissue culture. Then the scale-up process is carried out using technology commonly used in the automotive industry.
He emphasized that biomechanics and an innovation mindset are two sides of the same coin that support each other to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. “With collaboration and joint efforts, biomechanical innovation has the potential to have a major impact on society and the quality of human life as a whole,” said Prof. Judan. At the inauguration, the Director for Legal, External Affairs and Circular Economy, PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk Edi Rivai and Professor of FT Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Prof. Ir. Alva Edy Tontowi, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU., ASEAN.Eng were present.
Prof. Yudan completed his undergraduate education at FTUI in 1993. Then, he continued his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Aachen and graduated in 2000. In 2006, he continued his doctoral education at Bioengineering, University of Pisa and graduated in 2012. Some of his scientific works are have been published in the last three years, including the title On-chip Testing of a Carbon-based Platform for Electro-adsorption of Glutamate (2022); Tailoring mechanical properties and degradation rate of maxillofacial implant based on sago starch/polylactid acid blend (2022); and Additive manufacturing of metallic based on extrusion process: a review (2021).
