In light of the advancing technological landscape, the University of Brawijaya (UB) has taken proactive steps by entering into partnerships with various esteemed Japanese universities to pave the way for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Center.
This collaboration aims to leverage the expertise and resources of both UB and its Japanese counterparts to foster groundbreaking advancements in the fields of robotics, AI, data science, material science, and other areas of academic, research, and innovative pursuits.
Leading the charge is Andi Kurniawan, Vice Rector IV for Planning, Cooperation, and Internationalization at UB, who underscores the significance of these collaborations in enhancing the academic landscape and facilitating mutual growth.
He emphasizes, “We seek to establish collaborations with universities that recognize UB as a crucial partner, enabling us to embark on a journey of collaboration for collective progress and prosperity.”
The collaborative efforts between UB and Nagoya City University (NCU), one of the renowned Japanese institutions, holds immense promise. It is envisioned that this partnership will yield reciprocal benefits and create an environment conducive to knowledge exchange and exploration.
By pooling their intellectual and technological resources, UB and NCU endeavor to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence applications, with a specific focus on research pertaining to the biological sciences, particularly in connection to medical plants and herbal remedies.
Novanto Yudistira, a faculty member at UB’s Faculty of Computer Science, sheds light on the future implementation of AI technologies. The plan involves leveraging the capabilities of AI to conduct extensive analysis of big data sets at the molecular level of herbal plants.
This revolutionary approach holds the potential to unlock valuable insights from the vast array of 7,000 herbal plants, with far-reaching implications for the healthcare sector and human well-being.
During a visit to NCU, the UB Rector presented a research paper titled “Bioinformatic and Holistic Paradigm of the Complexity of Indonesia Traditional Medicine for Promoting Human Health.” This presentation delved into the diverse biodiversity of Indonesia, serving as a catalyst for further research and development in the realm of traditional medicine. However, the standardization of safety measures for these products emerges as a pertinent concern that necessitates resolution.
Additionally, in the field of robotics, UB and Waseda University are collaborating to create a cutting-edge humanoid robot known as the King of Brawijaya.
This joint endeavor between University of Brawijaya and Waseda University, a globally esteemed institution ranked among the top 200 universities according to the QS Star ranking, aims to unleash the potential of robotics technology through innovative advancements and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Esteemed professors such as Prof. Shuji Hashimoto, renowned for his involvement in the creation of the iconic Gundam robot, and Prof. Pitoyo Hartono, an Indonesian diaspora who has achieved the prestigious position of a professor in Japan, have played instrumental roles in fostering cooperative relationships by serving as guest lecturers or advisors at UB’s FILKOM.
Beyond the realms of research and academia, the collaborations are poised to yield publications in reputable international journals, thus ensuring widespread dissemination of knowledge and facilitating scholarly contributions. Additionally, the collaborations will serve as a catalyst for the elevation of UB’s own journals to achieve reputable status, further augmenting the institution’s academic reputation.
These collaborations build upon UB’s existing partnerships with other esteemed Japanese universities such as Nagoya University, Chukyo University, Keio University, and Waseda University, solidifying UB’s commitment to nurturing a global network of knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation.