The research team in the ITS and GRF collaboration project, along with ITS leadership, after signing the MoU at the ITS Rectorate Building

ITS Campus, ITS News — Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) continues demonstrating its commitment to developing a superior research ecosystem. In line with this, ITS officially collaborated with the GAUSS Research Foundation (GRF) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement (PKS) at the ITS Rectorate Building on Thursday (23/1).

On this occasion, Vice Rector IV for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Alumni of ITS, Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD, said that this collaboration with GRF paved the way for ITS to encourage the development of domestic navigation research. “Navigation systems are important, especially for Indonesia as a maritime country,” said the man who is familiarly called Hatta.

ITS Vice Rector IV Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD (blue shirt) signing the cooperation agreement between ITS and GRF

Meanwhile, a research team representative from GRF, Prof Leo P Ligthart PhD, explained that this cooperation aims to produce innovative products that can help the limitations of navigation systems. Today’s system is a satellite potentially subject to technical disruptions. “Navigation connects all places in the world, so there needs to be a backup system to anticipate problems,” he added.

The initial cooperation project will last one year and focus on determining the characteristics and specifications of the new system as a backup for satellite navigation. This innovation will carry radio waves across ship, plane, and station navigation. The developed system is expected to be integrated and meet user needs to operate without satellite navigation.

Furthermore, this professor, whose expertise is in antennas and propagation, added that this collaboration provides scholarships for master program students to continue their studies and research in navigation and propagation. The partnership also provides opportunities for scientific publications and conferences with consultation from experts in the field.

The research team in the ITS and GRF collaboration project and ITS leadership after signing the MoU at the ITS Rectorate Building

The collaboration aims to developaims to develop research in the navigation field. It is a step for ITS to realize Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9, namely creating industry, innovation, and adequate infrastructure. In addition, this collaboration with one of the scientific research foundations from the Netherlands also emphasizes ITS’ role in building partnerships to achieve goals, as stated in SDG 17 regarding partnerships to reach common goals.

The man who became an ITS Adjunct Professor hopes that this collaboration between ITS and GRF can continue solving navigation system problems worldwide. The signing of this MoU is the first step in a series of projects that both parties will carry out. “The approach we use is to do step by step to move forward,” he said. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: A Rifda Yuni Artika
Translator: Lael Soebakir