Universitas Trisakti reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international research collaboration through its participation in the UNIIC Africa-Asia Roundtable Discussion 2025, held on February 12–13, 2025, at the Tfokomala Hotel and Conference Centre, University of Mpumalanga (UMP), South Africa. The event brought together 100 delegates from 43 universities and organizations across 11 countries. This roundtable served as one of the flagship initiatives of the University Incubator and Innovation Consortium (UNIIC), a collaborative consortium initiated by Asia Pacific University (APU) Malaysia, Universitas Trisakti, and several partner universities across Asia and Africa. As a co-initiator of this consortium, Universitas Trisakti plays a key role in shaping the policies and strategies for cross-border collaboration in research, entrepreneurship, and technological development.

The university was represented at the event by the Rector, Vice Rector I, and Head of the Center for Business Incubator Development. Their presence underscores Trisakti’s strategic position as a driving force behind the consortium and as a key representative of Indonesia in advancing the innovation ecosystem in the Global South. The forum featured a series of panel sessions addressing the importance of cooperation among African and Asian universities in overcoming challenges related to cultural, economic, and regional policy differences. Discussions also explored collaborative research models and funding strategies, the development of cross-border policy frameworks to advance science and technology, and the design of AI-based platforms for matchmaking research and startup partners.

The highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) among 11 universities from five UNIIC member countries, solidifying the foundation for long-term cooperation in research, innovation, and cross-regional business incubation. To further expand the impact of this collaboration, UNIIC also launched two key initiatives: first, the development of a Joint Technical Report by UMP and APU, which outlines guidelines for cross-border collaboration; and second, the creation of an AI-enabled Matching Platform by APU and the Cambodia Institute of Technology (CIT), which will enable automated matchmaking among researchers, startups, and funding opportunities within the consortium. Both initiatives are scheduled to be officially launched during Hackfest 2025 in India.

In his statement, Rector of Universitas Trisakti, Prof. Dr. Kadarsah Suryadi, expressed pride in Trisakti’s role as a founding member of UNIIC and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to building impactful collaborative spaces. He emphasized that this joint initiative is more than a discussion forum—it is a collective movement toward a more adaptive and globally competitive future for higher education. Trisakti’s active participation also reflects its implementation of the penta-helix approach, which integrates the roles of academia, government, industry, communities, and media to foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem.

Through its involvement in the Asia-Africa Roundtable 2025, Universitas Trisakti not only reinforces its presence on the international stage but also demonstrates leadership as a driving force behind research and innovation collaboration across regions, helping to shape the future of the Global South.