The Final Pitch and Awarding Night for Swiss Innovation Challenge Asia 2025 officially took place at the SBM ITB on Friday (September 26th). This event is a collaboration between SBM ITB and Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW), Switzerland, aimed at supporting the development of innovative solutions to address various local and global challenges. This international competition provides a platform for companies, non-profit organizations, startups, and individuals to channel their creative ideas into applicable and impactful innovations.
The event opened with remarks from Togar Mangihut Simatupang, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Technology, who expressed his appreciation for the implementation of the Swiss Innovation Challenge in Indonesia. He stated that this competition provides access for students and innovators from various universities in the country to participate in a global innovation platform.
According to him, this event encourages the public to be more aware of real-world problems at the local level and to transform ideas into concrete solutions. He also emphasized that Switzerland is recognized as one of the most innovative countries in the world, and this collaboration is expected to encourage Indonesian innovators to expand into the international market.
The Swiss Innovation Challenge Asia is designed in three stages: submitting an innovation description, developing a business plan, and planning implementation. The main focus of the competition is on the development of processes, products, business models, and managerial practices. The goal is to encourage the commercialization of innovations, support entrepreneurial talent, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the region.
Leo Aldianto, from the International Steering Committee of the Swiss Innovation Challenge Asia 2025, explained that this program represents an international collaboration between FHNW and several universities in Asia, including Malaysia, Japan, and Vietnam. He said that this competition serves as a platform for bringing innovative ideas to the commercialization stage. He also emphasized that innovations from Indonesia have great potential to impact both nationally and globally.
The selection process from the semifinals to the finals involved a panel of judges from academics, industry practitioners, and entrepreneurs. Among them were Prawira Fajarindra, a Belgian; Stefan Philippi; Prof. Dr. Arie Hans Verkuil; Dr. Leo Aldianto, Nadya Saib, Dohar Bob Silumorang, and Dr. Dpl Ing. Mulyadi Sinung Harjono from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
From the final pitch results, three teams were selected as winners. First place went to the HerLens team thanks to an application that allows doctors and midwives to screen for cervical cancer using only a smartphone.
This solution is claimed to be practical, affordable, and accurate, especially for areas with limited resources. Andini, Chief Product Officer of HerLens, stated that this achievement opens up opportunities to expand the reach of their innovation to the global market. HerLens will represent Indonesia in the pitching session in Switzerland, alongside winners from Malaysia and Vietnam.
Second place went to the Microalgae-Based Carbon Capture Technology team at SP Subang, who presented their innovative microalgae-based carbon capture technology. This technology can absorb CO₂ emissions from industry while producing economically valuable biomass. The team stated that this solution represents a concrete step in addressing the climate crisis and an opportunity to expand the reach of Indonesian innovation at the regional and international levels.
Meanwhile, third place went to the Renewable Energy Pump for Agriculture team, which developed a solar-powered water pump to help smallholder farmers reduce their dependence on diesel fuel. The team representative stated that their primary focus is empowering farmers and supporting national food security before expanding their reach to the global market.
The success of these three teams is considered proof that Indonesian innovators are capable of providing real solutions to global challenges while simultaneously generating positive social impact. With the support of FHNW Switzerland and various partners, this competition is expected to continue fostering creative ideas, strengthening the innovation ecosystem, and inspiring Indonesia’s younger generation to excel on the global stage.
