Jakarta, June 2020. The Indofood Nugraha Research (IRN) Program for the academic year 2020/2021 is reopend for senior students in all majors to obtain research funding assistance. In accordance with the current pandemic conditions, the theme of the IRN program is “Millennials and Food Research in the New Normal, Towards Advancing Indonesia.” The program socialization to students was held on Saturday, June 27, 2020 followed by more than 2,000 students online, through webinars and live streaming on social media.

The COVID-19 pandemic that swept the world, including Indonesia, has resulted in changes of habits in all fields, including those in education sector. The Government requires universities in all zones to carry out online learning methods for theoretical courses. As for practical course, it is also done online wherever possible. If this is not possible, activities such as research for undergraduate thesis in laboratories, studios, workshops and others, may be carried out on campus by implementing health protocols and related policies.

PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Director Axton Salim said, "We continue to support so that undergraduate students can complete their research or final assignments as required. But we believe, millennial student as tech - savy generation, will be able to adapt and make various adjustments in the ‘new normal’ era. In addition to providing research funding assistance, students will also get direct guidance from the IRN Expert Board. So that with the combination of millennial creativity and guidance from experts, it is possible to have more applied research to provide solution for the community, such as to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic."

Axton also said that the IRN program continues to encourage food research based on Indonesian local wisdom. "Indonesian local foods are very diverse and have the potential to be developed. This is where innovations are needed from various areas of science & technology such as, nutrition, system development system, creative packaging, marketing and distribution systems. In the end superior food research can support national food independence. "

The IRN program, as Indofood’s Corporate Social Responsibility pillar of the Human Capital Development, is open to undergraduate students who are completing their final assignments from various majors. The objective is to research local food resources both from land and sea, various food sources of carbohydrates (such as corn, sorghum, wheat, various tubers, etc.), coconut and palm oil, spices, livestock products, marine products and fisheries as well other sources of local food products. The fields of research include the fields of production (agro technology), technology (post-harvest and processing), public health and nutrition, as well socio-economic and cultural fields.

To obtain research funding, students need to register their research proposals through the website: www.indofoodrisetnugraha.com or send an email to indofoodrisetnugraha@indofood.co.id from 27 June to 30 July 2020. Other requirements include a complete curriculum vitae of students and supervisors, and research are conducted in Indonesia for a maximum period of 1 (one) year. All proposals will undergo an administrative and substantive research selection process.

Students who are selected for the IRN program, will also be specifically guided by the IRN Expert Board, in addition to getting research funding assistance. At the end of the program, the three best researchers will get the chance to obtain a special appreciation from Indofood.

Since it was first launched in 2006, the IRN Program has received around 5,000 proposals and funded more than 800 research students.

"We hope that through the IRN Program this time, there will be higher research interest among millennials. More and more higher calibre researches are produced by students and are useful for improving the quality of human resources, national competitiveness and ultimately support national food independence, "Axton said.

About the Nugraha Indofood Research Program (IRN)

IRN is a research funding assistance program for students (Strata 1) who are completing their final project / research in the field of food diversification. The IRN program began in 2006 as a continuation of the Bogasari Nugraha program, which was initiated in 1998 by Bogasari Flour Mills; one of the strategic business groups of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk, its main business activities producing flour and pasta.

The program is one of the pillars of corporate social responsibility in Building Human Capital. The IRN program has been recognized and won the 2010 Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award for the category of Investment in People Award from Enterprise Asia and the 2011 Education Care Award from the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud).

The Expert Team consisted of 9 experts from various fields such as the Field of Food Technology, the Socio-Economic Field of Agriculture, the Field of Agricultural Cultivation, the Field of Animal Husbandry, the Field of Nutrition and Health, the Field of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, the Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology Field and from Indofood - representing the Industrial sector.

About PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk

Over the last two decades, Indofood has progressively transformed into a Total Food Solutions company with operations in all stages of food manufacturing, from the production of raw materials and their processing, to consumer products in the market. Today, it is renowned as a well-established company and a leading player in each business category in which it operates. In its business operations, Indofood capitalizes on economies of scale and a resilient business model with four complementary Strategic Business Groups (“Group”), namely: