Pekanbaru, March 13, 2026 — Universitas Riau (UNRI) welcomed a visit from the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Stella Christie, Ph.D., in an agenda titled Silaturahmi, Presentation, and Discussion on Universitas Riau’s Leading Research, held on Friday (13/3/2026). The event served as a strategic forum for the academic community to strengthen their understanding of the importance of developing leading research that is well-directed, collaborative, and capable of delivering broad impacts to society.
In her remarks, the Rector of UNRI, Prof. Dr. Sri Indarti, S.E., M.Si., stated that strengthening research is one of the main pillars in building an impactful university. She emphasized that UNRI remains committed to developing innovative and contextual flagship research that can address development challenges.
“We want UNRI to continue growing as a university that excels in education, is strong in research, and makes real contributions to society. The presence of the Deputy Minister further strengthens our spirit to develop innovative, collaborative, and impactful flagship research,” said Prof. Sri.
In her presentation, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Stella Christie, Ph.D., emphasized that universities need to have a clear research roadmap and vision as the foundation for the development of science and innovation. According to her, leading research cannot grow without strong institutional direction, a focus on priority fields, and the courage of institutions to consistently build excellence.
“Universities need to have a strong research roadmap and vision so that the development of science does not proceed sporadically. Research must be built with direction, consistency, and the courage to focus on areas of excellence. From there, innovations will emerge that not only have academic value but also generate social, economic, and developmental impacts.”
During the forum, UNRI also presented several flagship research initiatives. Prof. Dr. Erman Taer, M.Si. presented a topic titled The Potential of Indonesian Biomass as a Future Energy Storage Medium, highlighting opportunities for biomass development to support future green energy. The presentation also demonstrated strengthened synergy through the Biomass for Green Energy Consortium, involving UNRI, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Universitas Hasanuddin, and Telkom University.
In addition, Prof. Dr. Ir. Bahruddin, MT., IPU presented The Potential Utilization of Natural Rubber Latex as an Emulsion Paint Binder. The presentation showed how local resources can be transformed into applied innovations with added value while opening broader opportunities for research development.
The Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Riau (FISIP UNRI), Dr. Meyzi Heriyanto, S.Sos., M.Si., stated that the Deputy Minister’s presentation provided important perspectives for the development of research in the field of social and political sciences. According to him, the emphasis on research roadmaps and vision is also highly relevant for social science disciplines that play a role in understanding societal dynamics, formulating policies, and presenting data-based recommendations.
“The Deputy Minister’s presentation reinforces the idea that research must have clear direction and strong relevance to societal needs. For FISIP UNRI, this serves as encouragement to continue strengthening collaborative research that not only produces academic studies but also creates social impact, supports public policy, and addresses development challenges,” said Dr. Meyzi.
Through this activity, FISIP UNRI views the strengthening of research culture at Universitas Riau as an important step in reinforcing the role of universities in generating ideas, recommendations, and innovations that provide tangible benefits for society and development. (RIRY, Photo: UNRI Public Relations).
