Adnan Hasyim Wibowo (Geophysics 2021), Ratna Ayu Lestari (Biology 2020), and Fathan Mubina (Biology 2020) won second place in the national business innovation competition entitled “Innovative Business Development in the Era of Energy Transition and Mineral Downstreaming”, which was organized by PT Cogindo Daya Bersama.
The announcement of the winners and the awarding of prizes were held live at PT Cogindo Daya Bersama in South Jakarta on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The Kopi Susu team competed closely with 49 student teams from other universities.
The team led by Adnan offered an innovation entitled “AGASA (Algae for Sustainable Action): Urban air purifier business based on photobioreactors as Advanced Decarbonization Strategy in synergizing the net zero emission target and the new and renewable energy (EBT) transition.
AGASA is urban air purifier photobioreactor-based which utilizes the photosynthesis process of algae to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
“The expected results of this innovation are clean air and algae that can be used as bioenergy. In addition to purifying the air, AGASA is also environmentally friendly and supports the commitment of net zero emission and the clean renewable energy transition,” said Adnan explaining his team’s work.
They placed the photobioreactor in an urban area. The idea was sparked by the rare blue sky phenomenon in Jakarta during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team capitalized on this phenomenon and developed the photobioreactor, aiming to decarbonize, or reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in urban areas where tree planting is already limited.
“Besides being useful in reducing pollution, this innovation also aims to provide an oxygen supply to the environment around the device’s installation,” said Adnan.
The Kopi Susu team began their journey by submitting a business proposal based on their idea. After being announced as having advanced to the semifinals, they presented online. Finally, in the final round, they presented in person, bringing their ideas. prototype inovasi bisnis urban air purifier based on the photobioreactor they created.
In designing their innovation, the team divided tasks according to their respective fields of expertise. Team members Ratna Ayu Lestari and Fathan Mubina from the Department of Biology focused on assisting in the selection of algae species and effective culture methods for decarbonizing urban air. They also designed a method for utilizing algae biomass for recycling into various products, particularly bioenergy. Fathan Mubina, who has an entrepreneurial background, also contributed to the financial planning and marketing of this proposal.
“In teamwork, each member contributes significantly. I’m responsible for operations, Fathan for financial projections, and Ratna for marketing. However, the prototype creation was done collaboratively by all team members,” Adnan told the UI Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Public Relations team.
The Kopi Susu team is solving a problem that’s close to everyday life. The photobioreactor is planned to be located in a high-traffic location, so its benefits can be directly seen by the community. Furthermore, this innovation has the potential for broad collaborations with governments, NGOs, and large corporations.
Like most students, the Kopi Susu team faced challenges in participating in this competition: each member’s busy schedule and limited time. In this competition, they were only given one week to create their product. prototype. Busy academic schedules, midterm exams, and other commitments presented challenges. However, with hard work and strong teamwork, they managed to complete the prototype in time for the presentation.
At the end of the interview session with the FMIPA UI Public Relations Team, Adnan represented the Kopi Susu Team in giving a message and encouragement to all other FMIPA UI students.
“Our message to our fellow students is that as young people, we must continue to be enthusiastic about developing our potential and exploring the various opportunities available in college. As the saying goes, “Nothing is wasted in trying.” Stay enthusiastic, don’t be afraid to fail, and keep learning from every experience. Achievement and success will come with determination and hard work,” he said.
The 2023 Business Innovation Competition, organized by PT Cogindo Daya Bersama, has the theme “Innovative Business Development in the Era of Energy Transition and Mineral Downstreaming.” The competition invites active D3, S1, and S2 students to participate and share their brilliant ideas.
