Magelang, September 29, 2025 – Universitas Muhammadiyah Magelang (UNIMMA), through the Center for Sustainable Intelligent Circular Economy (CSICE), successfully organized the International Seminar on IndoCircularWaste under the theme “Circular Economy to Minimize Waste Challenges in Indonesia.” The event took place at UNIMMA Campus 1 Auditorium, bringing together international and national experts from academia, research institutions, and industry.
The seminar served as a platform for knowledge-sharing and discussion on innovative strategies for sustainable waste management. One of the keynote speakers, Prof. Kannan Govindan (University of Southern Denmark & University of Adelaide), highlighted the importance of adopting circular economy business models.
“Behind the challenges of waste management lies a great opportunity to transform waste into valuable resources,” said Prof. Kannan.
Part of the IndoCircularWaste Project
The seminar is part of the IndoCircularWaste research project, a collaboration between UNIMMA, the University of Southern Denmark, Universitas Komputer Indonesia (Unikom), and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS). The project is built on three main pillars:
- Digitalization of the waste value chain,
- Strengthening government policies,
- Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Over the past four years, IndoCircularWaste has produced various outcomes, including prototypes, applications, scientific articles, books, book chapters, and intellectual property.
CSICE UNIMMA Chairperson, Dr. Yun Arifatul Fatimah, emphasized the role of the forum in building strategic networks:
“Waste issues cannot be solved in isolation. Through this forum, we aim to foster collaborations that drive policy transformation, technological innovation, and active community participation in supporting a circular economy.”
Distinguished Speakers
In addition to Prof. Kannan, the seminar also featured several prominent speakers: Rene Van Berkel (Senior Circular Economy Expert for SWITCH-Asia), Joni Safaat Adiansyah (Universitas Muhammadiyah Mataram), Ernie S. A. Soekotjo (BRIN Indonesia), Devika Kannan (University of Southern Denmark & University of Adelaide), Zainal Arifin Hasibuan (Unikom), and Arisman (Center for Southeast Asian Studies).
Their diverse expertise enriched the discussion and offered multiple perspectives on circular economy implementation in the Indonesian context.
UNIMMA’s Commitment to Sustainability
This international seminar reaffirms UNIMMA’s commitment as a higher education institution that not only advances scientific knowledge but also contributes to real-world solutions for societal, national, and global challenges.