Expanding its global network, UNAIR expands research collaboration and innovation downstreaming efforts in Pakistan

UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to expand its global reach through strategic international academic partnerships. A delegation conducted official visits to the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), two of Pakistan’s leading universities. The agenda focused on expanding international research cooperation, academic exchanges, global scientific publications, and the downstreaming and commercialization of university-based innovation.

The delegation was led by UNAIR’s Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development (RICD), Prof Dr Muhammad Miftahussurur SpPD-KGEH PhD, joined by Executive Secretary of the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD), Prof Dr Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih MSi, and Head of the Center for Journal Development, Publication, and Intellectual Property Rights (LPJPHKI), Prof Ferry Efendi Skep Ns MSc PhD.

International research and academic capacity building

The meeting was held in the IIUI Rectorate Conference Hall on Tuesday (11/2/2025), attended by the acting president, vice presidents, and senior leadership members. IIUI expressed a strong commitment to strengthening academic collaboration among Asian universities as part of its effort to advance higher education ecosystems across the Islamic world.

During the academic dialogue, UNAIR and IIUI identified multiple areas for strategic partnership. These include international joint research in STEM and the social sciences, faculty and student mobility programs, co-hosting international seminars and conferences, collaborative scientific publication platforms, and academic capacity building through global networks.

Prof Miftahussurur emphasized that the internationalization of research is essential to UNAIR’s goal of becoming a World Class University. “UNAIR is committed to broadening its regional and global footprint. This collaboration allows us to strengthen research quality, expand scientific influence, and establish long-term, sustainable academic networks,” he said.

Focus on innovation commercialization and integrated innovation ecosystems

While the visit to IIUI centered on academic cooperation, the visit to NUST focused on enhancing the downstreaming of research and transforming innovations into economic assets. The UNAIR delegation was welcomed by NUST’s Director of Research before touring two of the university’s leading units. The first was the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP), Pakistan’s largest center for innovation commercialization and research-driven startup development. The second was the School of Interdisciplinary Engineering & Sciences (SINES), a hub that integrates multidisciplinary research for industry-focused solutions.

NUST is widely regarded for having one of the most advanced downstream innovation ecosystems in South Asia, with hundreds of research outputs converted into commercial products, applied technologies, and successful startup ventures.

UNAIR research must deliver economic impact

During the visit, Prof Miftahussurur stressed the need for Indonesian universities to shift their research paradigm. “UNAIR’s research must create tangible impact, not only in academia but also economically. NUST illustrates how a university can function as an innovation center that generates applicable technologies and commercial products. This serves as a valuable lesson for UNAIR,” he asserted.

NUST expressed interest in collaborating in several areas such as innovation downstreaming and commercialization, science and technology park development model, university-based startup ecosystems, joint research with shared patent potential, and transdisciplinary researcher exchange programs

During the same visit, Prof Miftahussurur also delivered a guest lecture at NUST on Gastric Dysbiosis and H. pylori to multidisciplinary students and faculties. Meanwhile, Prof Dr Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih presented a lecture titled Introduction to Bioinformatics and Machine Learning: Role and Challenges.

Structured framework for international collaboration

UNAIR, IIUI, and NUST agreed to follow up the meetings by developing a more structured collaborative action plan. Priority areas include strengthening institutional partnerships, intensifying academic and research exchanges, expanding opportunities for internationally indexed scientific publications, accelerating research-based innovation downstreaming, and increasing the shared impact of collaborative research and innovation pipelines.

The UNAIR delegation’s visit to Pakistan underscores the university’s growing role in Indonesia’s academic diplomacy. The initiative aligns with UNAIR’s vision to enhance global contributions through innovative research, reputable scientific publications, and sustainable innovation commercialization.

Author: Prof Ferry Efendi

Editor: Yulia Rohmawati