Management of Technology Laboratory (MoT Lab) SBM ITB hosted the mini-lecture event with the University of Twente, the Netherlands. This event was held at the Kresna Lobby SBM ITB on 11 January 2023; two speakers from the University of Twente were invited, Maarten Appelman and Amalia Suryani. Both are researchers and Ph.D. candidates. The event was opened by the Acting Vice Dean of Resources at SBM ITB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ignatius Pulung Nurprasetio, M.SME, and welcomed by the Director of the SBM-ITB MoT Lab, Dr.rer.pol. Eko Agus Prasetio, MBA. The topic of this event is “The Role of Technology in Addressing Societal Challenges”.

In his presentation entitled “Philosophy of Technology, taking responsibility in a technological age,” Maarten Appelman cited the views of the famous philosopher Martin Heidegger. According to Heidegger, the important difference between traditional and modern technology is that we want to store energy and, in this way, dominate or conquer nature. We did not live in harmony with nature, but now we see it as something lower than humanity, something we can enslave.

For Heidegger, it was critical to understand how modern technology had changed our view of nature, and he feared it would also make us see other humans as the same fixed stock. There is an intrinsic value to nature and people, and if technology has made us see nature as something we must defend, then we should be keenly aware that we might as well do the same for humans. Many philosophers have argued that Heidegger went overboard with this statement, but if we look today, some 60 years later, we can argue that he was quite right on this point.

The second speaker, Amalia Suryani, gave a presentation entitled “Co-creation for technological innovations in energy access, A transdisciplinary approach.” The typology of co-creation is defined as the active interaction between technology and knowledge production by socially centralizing and transforming society. She provides examples of co-creation from a customer’s point of view, such as those done by DHL, LEGO, and Heineken.

Furthermore, she also explained about the microgrid for access to energy. Microgrid is an integrated energy system with three key elements (generation, storage, load): locally driven, distributed resources, and isolated or connected to the grid. Microgrids can supply electricity to households, public facilities, and/or businesses. The speaker also gave her presentation regarding microgrids in Indonesia.

At this event, MoT Lab SBM ITB announced the newly published book, “Transfer of Technology and Innovation for Business Transformation.” This book was written by MoT Lab SBM ITB members, namely Eko Agus Prasetio, Uruqul Nadhif Dzakiy, and Dedy Sushandoyo. This event was attended by more than 50 participants offline and online.

Written by Uruqul Nadhif Dzakiy