The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI) has once again recorded a proud achievement. Rafly Rezki Amir, a 2024 cohort student of the Physics Study Program, won First Place in the Technology Subcategory of the National Essay Competition organized by the Sentosa Foundation in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, held on 10–13 October 2025. Not stopping at the national level, Rafly further brought pride to Indonesia by winning the AI & Robotics category as both Winner and Best Startup at the international Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) 2025, held at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on 29–31 October 2025.
The National Essay Competition organized by the Sentosa Foundation is known as a scientific competition involving hundreds of participants from universities across Indonesia. Rafly emerged as the champion thanks to his research-based scientific work that focused on the development of artificial intelligence algorithms addressing technological and environmental issues. Rafly’s success continued at the international level through his participation in SWITCH 2025, a global innovation forum that brings together startups, researchers, investors, and technology industry players from more than 150 countries. The jury assessed his work as outstanding due to its originality, innovation, and ability to translate advancements in AI into relevant and applicable solutions.
“I want to demonstrate that the innovations of Indonesian youth can be relevant and competitive at the global level,” Rafly told the FMIPA UI Public Relations Team.
This year, the event was attended by more than 300 startups and hundreds of expert speakers from around the world. In the AI & Robotics pitching competition, Rafly excelled through innovations developed by his startup, PT Raftech Advanced Systems, including a prototype of an artificial intelligence–based air defense system.
PT Raftech Advanced Systems, which he founded in his third semester, focuses on the development of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies. The startup has a competitive advantage through its collaboration with the Indonesian Army (TNI AD), which enables technology testing to be conducted directly in the field, resulting in more mature and applicable products. Rafly described this collaboration as a key factor that strengthens the innovation value of Raftech.
Throughout his research journey, Rafly was supervised by Prof. Suprianto Prawiro, Head of Medical Physics at the Department of Physics, Universitas Indonesia. Several innovations developed by Rafly have now been registered as Copyrights, Patents, and under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
“This research journey has taught me that small, consistent efforts every day can turn into major breakthroughs,” he said.
In addition to being actively involved in research in Medical Instrumentation Physics, artificial intelligence, and robotics, Rafly has also broadened his academic activities through his involvement with the Financial Supervisory Agency of the Republic of Indonesia as well as various student organizations on campus. Responding to his achievements, Rafly stated that this victory is not merely a personal accomplishment, but also a motivation to continue creating innovations that deliver broad benefits to society.
The Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for Rafly’s achievement. He emphasized that this accomplishment demonstrates the quality of FMIPA UI students, who are capable of competing within a highly competitive global innovation ecosystem. Furthermore, Rafly’s success serves as evidence that FMIPA UI is well positioned to produce outstanding talent needed to strengthen national technological advancement and support the realization of Indonesia Emas 2045. This achievement is also expected to inspire other students to continue developing their work and innovations.
“Rafly’s achievement proves that FMIPA UI is capable of producing outstanding talent for the advancement of Indonesia’s technology, and this success certainly adds to FMIPA UI’s growing list of achievements at both the national and international levels,” Prof. Dede remarked.
