Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) successfully held its inaugural HITEX 2025, an exhibition highlighting research outputs and community service products developed by its faculty. The event attracted widespread attention from academics, industry representatives, and students, offering a unique platform to connect university research with industrial applications.
The HITEX 2025 event, organized by Universitas Airlangga’s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), showcased a variety of research-derived products, ranging from early-stage prototypes to commercially produced items. It also featured outputs from community service programs implemented by UNAIR faculty. The event welcomed attendees from various universities, including Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Universitas Pajajaran, and several universities in Surabaya. Distinguished guests included Prof. Yos Sunitiyoso, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., Director of Downstreaming and Partnerships at the Directorate General of Research and Development, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, who commended the initiative as a key platform bridging research and industry.
In his opening remarks, UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, M.T., Ak., C.A., emphasized the importance of the exhibition in fostering collaboration between university research and industrial stakeholders. “HITEX 2025 is expected to serve as a bridge connecting university research products with industry,” he stated, highlighting the potential for innovation and commercialization. Among the notable participants was the Post-Harvest, Processing Technology, and Bioproducts Research Group from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK), showcasing a pioneering line of salt-based products developed through integrated salt farming and Artemia cultivation.
Prof. Mochammad Amin Alamsjah, Ir., M.Si, Ph.D., the lead inventor of the salt innovation, explained the scientific breakthrough behind the product. “The salt produced through this innovation has a NaCl content of approximately 80-90%, which is further refined to achieve over 99% NaCl purity,” he said. This process ensures high-quality salt suitable for both industrial and consumer products. The exhibition featured a wide range of derivative products, including spa salts, toothpaste, mouthwash, facial scrub gels, hand sanitizers, deodorants, peel-off masks, and body scrubs, all tested for their efficacy through rigorous scientific research conducted at FPK UNAIR.
The event also emphasized knowledge transfer and practical applications of research. Participants gained insights into the potential of university-developed products for commercial scaling, while researchers had opportunities to network with industrial partners. The integration of research, innovation, and community service demonstrated UNAIR’s commitment to delivering practical solutions to societal challenges. HITEX 2025 further highlighted the university’s proactive approach in promoting sustainability, technological advancement, and economic value through its research and community engagement programs.
By presenting both research outputs and their real-world applications, HITEX 2025 successfully showcased UNAIR as a leader in fostering innovation in Indonesia. The event underscored the strategic role of higher education institutions in driving industrial growth, developing new products, and improving community welfare. It also reinforced the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences’ position as a pioneer in post-harvest technology, bioproducts, and sustainable aquaculture innovations.
