The Indonesian higher education and innovation landscape celebrates a remarkable milestone as Dr. Eng. Bayu Indrawan, Founder of the Center of Waste Management Indonesia (CWMI), technopreneur, and academic leader, has been officially appointed as a member of the National Higher Education Council (Dewan Pendidikan Tinggi, DPT) for the 2025–2029 term. The appointment was formalized through the Decree of the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology No. 207/M/KEP/2025.
Pioneering Waste-to-Energy Innovation through CWMI
As the Founder of CWMI, Dr. Bayu has been at the forefront of redefining waste management in Indonesia. His vision was to establish CWMI not merely as a research hub, but as a national platform for innovation, technology transfer, and real-world impact.
CWMI’s groundbreaking contributions include:
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Hydrothermal technology to convert organic waste into sustainable fuel.
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Pyrolysis processes to transform plastic waste into alternative energy sources.
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Integrated waste management models bridging government, industry, and community collaboration.
These initiatives have positioned CWMI as a pioneer of waste-to-energy solutions, widely recognized both nationally and internationally, and as a model of how scientific research can be translated into tangible technologies that address pressing environmental challenges.
A Vision for Higher Education Transformation
Now stepping into his new role at the National Higher Education Council, Dr. Bayu brings with him not only his academic expertise but also decades of experience driving technological innovation, circular economy solutions, and sustainable entrepreneurship. His vision for higher education in Indonesia is anchored on three transformative priorities:
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Bridging research and real-world impact – ensuring that academic research evolves into practical technologies, services, and innovations that benefit society and industry.
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Strengthening the innovation and technopreneurship ecosystem – positioning universities as the birthplace of research-based startups, green entrepreneurs, and cross-sectoral collaboration.
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Empowering universities as engines of the green economy – leading the transition towards renewable energy, circular economy, and climate resilience through science and education.
“Universities must go beyond producing job-ready graduates. They must nurture innovators, technopreneurs, and future leaders capable of addressing global challenges. CWMI is a living example of how research can be transformed into impactful, scalable solutions,” said Dr. Bayu.
Inspiring Change, Shaping the Future
Dr. Bayu’s appointment to the Council signals a stronger alignment between environmental innovation and national education policy. By leveraging his leadership through CWMI, he is expected to catalyze policies that are adaptive to disruptive technologies, responsive to the future of work, and deeply rooted in sustainability.
His presence in the DPT offers renewed optimism:
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For academia – a stronger pathway to research commercialization and regional innovation hubs.
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For industry – a closer collaboration with universities in driving circular economy and clean energy solutions.
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For society – the promise of cleaner, greener, and more resilient communities.
This milestone underscores a profound message: scientific integrity, visionary leadership, and dedication to innovation can shape not only solutions for waste and energy but also the very future of higher education in Indonesia.