The ITB research team from the SATREPS project “Development of Integrated Bio-Circular Economy from Food and Energy Estate Waste Fraction to Bio-Fuel and Bio-Chemicals” recently visited several partner institutions in Japan to strengthen international collaboration and research networking.

Led by Prof. Ardiyan Harimawan, with Prof. Tjandra Setiadi and Dr. Helen Julian as team members, the research focuses on secondary wastewater purification and the production of value-added products using microalgae as part of a sustainable bio-circular economy approach.

During the visit, the team had productive discussions and knowledge exchange with Prof. Chiaki Ogino’s laboratory members at Kobe University, as well as representatives from the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). The team also had the opportunity to visit the Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology at Kobe University.

This collaboration is expected to further strengthen research partnerships between Indonesia and Japan in advancing sustainable wastewater treatment, membrane technology, microalgae utilization, and circular bioeconomy innovation.