The Science and Technology Park (LKST) at IPB University held a Seminar on the Results of the 2025 PRIME STeP STP Hackathon Program. This activity was conducted as part of the monitoring and supervision of program implementation.
The Chairperson of LKST IPB University, Prof Erika B Laconi, said that the PRIME STeP Hackathon program was specifically designed to prepare IPB University students to become future business leaders and entrepreneurs based on innovation. In 2025, this program successfully selected 10 best teams from a number of participants who took part in the evaluation process.
“Alhamdulillah, this year 10 teams were selected. In the future, we hope that the number can increase to 20 teams, so that more IPB students will be ready to become strong CEOs based on their work and innovation,” said Prof Erika in her speech at the event held at the IPB International Convention Center (IICC), Bogor, Friday (12/13).
She explained that this program differs from other business incubation programs at IPB University. The PRIME STeP Hackathon serves as the initial phase of training for students before they enter the advanced business incubation program after graduation.
“Most IPB students are interested in becoming professionals, CEOs, or entrepreneurs. However, this interest needs to be prepared systematically. Therefore, IPB equips students from an early age, starting from talent tests to various entrepreneurship programs, one of which is through the PRIME STeP Hackathon,” she explained.
Through this program, students are encouraged to develop businesses based on scientific work, creativity, and innovation, including those originating from the Student Creativity Program (PKM) and other research.
According to Prof Erika, innovation excellence is the key to enabling students to compete, both in the market and in sustainable business development.
“Students will excel if they have creativity and innovation. That is where the market will grow and businesses can flourish,” she said.
During the seminar, ten selected teams presented their product development results for evaluation by a team of evaluators consisting of academics and practitioners. Each team received funding support of around Rp35 million, which is expected to be the beginning of the development of a large-scale business in the future.
Prof Erika hopes that all selected teams will be able to continue to the 2026 business incubation program, so that in the following years, students will be able to go further as independent entrepreneurs.
“We hope that these ten teams can enter the business incubation program next year. This is a gradual process so that by 2027 they will be ready to become strong entrepreneurs in society,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of the relationship between innovation and market needs. According to her, innovation will develop if it has a clear market and is truly utilized by the community.
Going forward, LKST IPB University plans to strengthen the synergy between innovation and business incubation units, including providing a special space to display product prototypes from the PRIME STeP Hackathon at the IPB University innovation gallery.
“With an integrated ecosystem, we are optimistic that IPB students’ innovations can develop into real businesses that have an impact on society,” she concluded. (AS)(IAAS/RWA)
