A proud moment unfolded at the World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE) – ITEX 2025 held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia, where two students from the Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK) — Adela Febry Widiana and Ghais Rizieq Azriel — captured global attention by winning the Golden Award at the international competition involving 15 countries and over 900 innovations. This event is supported by multiple Malaysian ministries including investment, trade & industry; science, technology & innovation; and digital affairs alongside international investor organisations.
Representing FPK UNAIR, the team presented a ground‑breaking innovation titled MOOEW Hair Tonic Gel, a pet‑cosmetic product formulated using hydroxyproline derived from waste from mackerel fish bones and chamomile extract. This innovation marks the first solution in Indonesia specifically addressing alopecia (hair‑loss) in cats through an eco‑friendly, fish‑ery‑based technology, and simultaneously challenges the stigma of waste as worthless material.
Led by Adela as team leader, and achieved through cross‑disciplinary collaboration with students from the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Faculty of Pharmacy, the team demonstrated that collaborative research can deliver tangible breakthroughs — benefitting the environment, the pet‑care cosmetics industry, and the sustainability of the fisheries sector. “We want to show that fishery waste can become a premium resource for sustainable industries. MOOEW is not just a cosmetic, it is a form of love for animals and our earth,” said Adela.
WYIE 2025 is not just any competition — it serves as a benchmark for youth innovation globally, with international judges from various academic and industrial backgrounds. The Golden Award achieved by UNAIR is proof that local innovation can compete at the global level when rooted in strong identity and sustainability ethos. The MOOEW team is not stopping there: they are now preparing next steps to further develop the product into diversified product lines, conduct advanced clinical trials, and apply for both national and international patents. They are also opening opportunities to collaborate with pet‑care industry players to distribute the product across the Southeast Asia market.
With a strong vision as a pioneer in eco‑friendly pet‑cosmetic products derived from waste, MOOEW not only brings honour to UNAIR, but also underscores that the future of innovation is in the hands of the young generation who think across boundaries and act for the earth.
