BRIN Inaugurates Endophytic Microbe Research Collaboration Center

RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta - The National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) and the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) Yogyakarta officially launched the Endophytic Microbe Research Collaboration Center (PKR) and the Center for Innovation and Excellence Studies in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. This launch marks the first step in national research collaboration to explore the potential of endophytic microorganisms, in line with Indonesia's position as a megadiverse nation.

The Head of the BRIN Applied Microbiology Research Center, Ahmad Fathoni, explained that bioactive compounds from endophytic microbes have great potential to be developed into antibacterial, anticancer, antimalarial, and immunomodulatory substances. He hopes the Endophytic Microbe Research Collaboration Center will become a national collaborative platform that brings together researchers from various institutions and across scientific fields.

Ahmad added that the collaboration between BRIN and UII will be carried out with a clear division of tasks between the institutions. "UII will establish its local presence at BRIN. That's where we will divide the tasks, then we will integrate these various elements into complex and successful research," he said.

According to him, this kind of synergy is expected to accelerate the commercialization of endophytic microbial research into applicable pharmaceutical products. This way, Indonesia can reduce its dependence on imported pharmaceutical raw materials, which remains high.

The Head of the UII Endophytic Microbial Research Center, Asih Triastuti, explained that this research is being conducted by combining the strengths of each partner university. The research aims to characterize the biodiversity of endophytic microbes from various Indonesian ecosystems and develop them as sources of antimicrobial, anticancer, and antimalarial bioactives.

Asih gave an example of the division of research focus, which will be tailored to the strengths of each partner university. "So, for example, at the University of North Sumatra, what kind of endophytic biodiversity they have, and if their expertise is in anticancer, then we will develop the potential at USU for endophytic microbes, targeting anticancer, for example," she explained.

The Endophytic Microbial Research Center (PKR) collaborates with a network of eight partner universities from across Indonesia, including the Bogor Agricultural University, the University of North Sumatra, Mulawarman University, Muhammadiyah University of East Kalimantan, Nusa Cendana University, Maluku Husada Health College, and the University of Papua. This network is designed to connect the archipelago's biodiversity from west to east to support research independence and the national pharmaceutical industry.