Semarang, May 15, 2025 – Students from Diponegoro University (UNDIP) have once again achieved a proud accomplishment. A team from the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology (TRKI) study program at the Vocational School of UNDIP successfully won three prestigious awards at the Cipta Nusantara Fest (C.N. Fest) 2025 event, organized by EduHub Youth Invention in collaboration with Riau University on April 26–27, 2025.
This national scientific competition brings together hundreds of creative students from all over Indonesia. In a highly competitive field, the TRKI UNDIP team, consisting of Maya Qisthina Gaissani (leader), Sigit Pramana, Mochammad Wibisono Faizun S., and Aisha Adinda Satyarani, shone brightly with their innovative work titled “Edible Film from Tofu Waste and Chlorella vulgaris Microalgae as an Environmentally Friendly Packaging Alternative to Support Indonesia Emas 2045.”
Thru brilliant ideas and concern for environmental issues, they successfully transformed tofu waste into a product of the future. This innovation earned them a Gold Medal in the Energy and Environment category, the title of Best Idea, and 3rd place in the Essay category.
Their innovation utilizes nata de soya from fermented tofu liquid waste, combined with the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, to create edible film—packaging material that can be consumed and naturally decomposes. This product is not only environmentally friendly but also functions as active packaging that can extend the shelf life of products, especially food items.
We are concerned about two major environmental problems: waste from the food industry, such as tofu, and pollution from single-use plastics. “Through this innovation, we want to provide a real solution that is both functional and sustainable,” explained Maya Qisthina, the team leader.
With the concepts of biodegradability, zero waste, and circular economy, this edible film is considered aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supports Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045. Not only is this innovation excellent in concept, but it also shows great potential for commercial development.
Maya expressed her pride in her team’s achievement. “This success is the result of our hard work and research collaboration. Our hope is that this innovation can continue to be developed to benefit the wider community and national industry.”
This success is inseparable from the guidance of Yusuf Ma’Rifat Fajar Azis, S.T., M.T., the supervising lecturer who intensively supported the team from the research stage to the preparation of the scientific paper.
This achievement not only demonstrates the academic excellence of TRKI UNDIP students but also reflects the campus’s commitment to fostering a spirit of innovation and scientific activities among students. Interdisciplinary collaboration, ranging from materials research and environmental issues to scientific writing strategies, is a key strength in the success of this team.
The Head of the TRKI Study Program, Mohamad Endy Julianto, S.T., M.T., also expressed his pride. “We greatly appreciate the research spirit of our students. May this spirit of innovation continue to grow and make a real contribution to society.
TRKI Vokasi UNDIP is strongly committed to realizing sustainable development and supporting Indonesia’s grand vision of Golden Indonesia 2045, emphasizing the importance of resource efficiency and environmental preservation in future industrial and economic development.
With this victory, UNDIP further demonstrates its role as a higher education institution consistently producing innovative, solution-oriented young generations ready to bring positive change to Indonesia’s future thru the power of science.