On Tuesday (29/6/2021) a Virtual Grand Ceremony & Seminar on Research Findings was held. The event was attended by Senior Executive Director of The Asahi Glass Foundation, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Director of The Asahi Glass Foundation, Suniyo Manabe, Director of The Asahi Glass Foundation, Shin Tatamatse, President of Asahi Glass Company Asia Pacific Singapore, Tsukasa Hirabayashi, Senior Director of Asahi Glass Company Asia Pacific Singapore, Hidefumi Odaka, Head of LPPM ITB, Dr. Sugeng Joko Sarwono, Executive Secretary of LPPM ITB, Dr. Rino Rakhmata Mukti and Executive Secretary for Community Service LPPM ITB, Deny Willy Junaidy, Ph.D.

Head of LPPM ITB Dr. Sugeng Joko Sarwono expressed his gratitude to The Asahi Glass Foundation for supporting the research carried out by ITB in the context of 101 years of ITB. He said that the research that will be presented had been selected from 49 research proposals. He hopes that these researches can be useful not only for the recipients of research grants, but also for advancing Indonesian and Japanese knowledge. The proposal review was conducted by the ITB Board of Reviewers based on several criteria.

Senior Executive of The Asahi Glass Foundation, Watabe, said that this activity was very good for networking and strengthening relationships. Researchers might have faced some difficulties, but research can still go well, and Mr. Hiroyuki really appreciated that. Mr. Hiroyuki closed his speech by saying thank you for everyone's participation.

On that occasion, an MoU was made between ITB and The Asahi Glass Foundation which was signed by ITB Rector Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, Ph.D. with The Chairman of Asahi Glass Foundation Takuya Shimamura. The MoU is a proof of research support for ITB for the next three years. The event then closed with presentations on research topics and symbolic grants.

The Asahi Glass Foundation has been supporting research activity in Institut Teknologi Bandung since 1988. The Asahi Glass Foundation wishes to contribute, through their programs to promote science and technology, for the industrial, economic, and social advancement of the countries that are funded.

The Asahi Glass Foundation's Overseas Research Funding Program provides financial support for original and outstanding research activities that can contribute to the development of science and technology. The main areas of research supported by funding are Materials Science, Life Sciences, Information Systems and Technology, Automated Control, Environment, and Energy.

List of research grants awarded by The Asahi Glass Foundation
1. Smart Porous Nanostructured Silica for Controlled Drug Delivery by Dr. Grandprix Thomryes Marth Kadja from FMIPA
2. Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) as Adjunct Therapy for Nicotine Dependence in Smokers by Dr. Kusnandar Anggadiredja from SF
3. Development of Sound Absorber based on Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch for Low Frequency Absorption by Iwan Prasetiyo, Ph.D. from FTI
4. Development of Visible Light Active Photocatalyst for Wastewater Treatment by Wibawa Hendra Saputera, Ph.D. from FTI
5. Remediation of Bauxite-Mining Polluting Water using Modified Clay by Elvi Restiawaty, Ph.D. from FTI
6. Design and Hardware Implementation of Visible Light Communication (VLC) for Indoor Internet-of-Things (IoT) Environment by Prof. Trio Adiono, Ph.D. from STEI
7. Cognitive Radio Technique for 5G/6G Wireless Communications System by Prof. Dr. Ir. Adit Kurniawan from STEI
8. Sustainable Business Model for Renewable Energy Development in Rural Area: The Case of East Sumba by Dr. Niken Prilandita, from SAPPK
9. Policy Analysis for the Development of Biogas from Palm Oil Waste as Renewable Energy at District Level by Dr. Saut Aritua Hasiholan Sagala from SAPPK
10. Magnesium-Air Battery with Seawater Electrolyte for Seawater-Activated Batteries Application by Afriyanti Sumboja, Ph.D. from FTMD
11. Heritage Smart City Planning (HESTYA) by Deni Suwardhi, Ph.D. from FITB
12. Establishment of a Space-Based Atmospheric Water Vapor Monitoring System for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Management in Indonesia by Dr.techn. Dudy Darmawan Wijaya from FITB
13. Development of Trivalent Rare Earth Ion Doped Glasses for Solid State Lighting Application by Prof. Dr. Ing. Mitra Djamal from FMIPA
14. Achieving Zero Waste in Alumina Industry: Development of High Temperature Processing of Bauxite Residue by Taufiq Hidayat, Ph.D. from FTTM

The funds given for each activity are approximately between 500,000 to 700,000 Japanese Yen, which will be decided by the Board of Reviewers of each university. The period of implementation of research activities is between 1-2 years starting from June 2021. Funds will be handed over by the Foundation in June, regardless of the duration of each activity received for funding.

Reporter: Dheamyra Aysha Ihsanti (Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, 2019)
Translator: Aghisna Syifa Rahmani (TPB SITHS 2020)