Local Chip Innovation for Medical Devices
Chips are a core component of electromedical devices in today’s digital era. Through this innovation, Prof. Trio, together with a team of lecturers from the School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (STEI), ITB, has successfully integrated locally designed chips into various medical devices, including anthropometric equipment, patient monitors, non-invasive ventilators, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) systems, electrocardiograms (ECG), and infusion pumps.

Prof. Trio explained that self-reliance in chip design has a significant impact on increasing the added value of national products. “By designing chips domestically, the local content level of medical devices can be significantly increased,” he stated. This is particularly important given that most medical devices in Indonesia still rely heavily on imported components.

Challenges of the Semiconductor Ecosystem in Indonesia
Despite its great potential, chip design development in Indonesia continues to face a number of challenges. Prof. Trio highlighted the absence of a well-established supply chain and a mature semiconductor industry ecosystem in the country. “The main challenge in chip design in Indonesia is the lack of a strong supply chain and a robust semiconductor industry ecosystem,” he noted.

This condition requires many processes to be carried out independently, resulting in relatively high production costs. In addition, substantial funding requirements for fabrication, the high cost of electronic design automation (EDA) software tools, and the development of competent human resources pose significant challenges in accelerating national semiconductor technology mastery.

Synergy of Research, Industry, and Safety Standards
The success of this chip development cannot be separated from close collaboration between ITB academics and industry partners, such as PT Miki and PT Xirka. Prof. Trio emphasized that synergy with industry plays a crucial role in bridging laboratory research outcomes to mass production, which requires substantial investment and sufficient economies of scale.

From a safety perspective, every chip developed must undergo a structured design process and comply with stringent quality standards set by the Ministry of Health. All devices are required to pass functional performance testing, endurance testing, as well as electrical and electromagnetic safety tests in accordance with national and international standards before being deemed safe for patient use.

Aspirations and Steps Toward a National Ecosystem
For Prof. Trio, this award serves as an initial milestone toward greater achievements. Moving forward, the primary focus is on developing products with strong innovative advantages that can compete competitively in both national and global markets.

He also encouraged regulatory support from the government, including prioritization of domestic industries and the implementation of sandboxing mechanisms to accelerate product testing processes. “We are committed to building a national ecosystem by educating new talents and establishing collaborations within the global value chain of the semiconductor industry,” he concluded.