Scientific Oration by Dr. M. Fauzan Adziman: The Key Role of Universities in Building a Downstream Ecosystem
By Indira Akmalia Hendri - Mahasiswa Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, 2021
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id — Dr. M. Fauzan Adziman, S.T., M.Eng., delivered a scientific oration during the Open Session of the 66th Dies Natalis of Institut Teknologi Bandung on Monday, March 3, 2025. With the title “The Key Role of Universities in Building a Downstream Ecosystem: Lessons from the University of Oxford,” he shared insights from his past 11 years of experience within the innovation ecosystem at the University of Oxford in developing the manufacturing industry based on downstream development.
Dr. Fauzan highlighted the dual role that universities around the world hold. On one hand, universities have a huge potential in driving national development through the formation of high-quality human resources, research innovation, as well as commercialization and technology transfer that support sustainable development. On the other hand, the numerous challenges that universities also face, such as limited funding, disparities in quality between different universities, and curricula’s relevance that are not yet fully aligned with industrial needs. Therefore, universities must become more adaptive to global developments without neglecting local demands.
Drawing from his experience in Oxford’s innovation ecosystem, Dr. Fauzan explained that the development of spin-out companies generally goes through three main phases: the pre-incubation stage, the development stage, and the product launch stage.
“The first stage is pre-incubation, where the technology transfer team pitches to investors, evaluates market potential, and tests the properness of the developed product or technology. After that, the process is followed by the development phase, where the innovation begins to evolve into a more mature business supported by larger funding and resources. The final stage is the outcome phase, where the company is ready to launch its product to the market. At this stage, the role of the legal team becomes highly crucial in securing intellectual property rights, drafting business contracts, and making sure compliance with industry regulations is met,” he explained.
These steps help in shaping human resources who can play an integral role within the downstream ecosystem, equipped with leadership experience in academia, industrial research, and corporate sectors. This process not only produces individuals with high technical competency, but also those who possess strategic understanding in connecting research with market demands. In the long run, the sustainability of this ecosystem depends on collaboration with various strategic partners — from academia, industry, and government — to ensure downstream innovation can run optimally and generate broad impact.
Dr. Fauzan emphasized the importance of maintaining an open-minded perspective, as not every research idea will lead to immediate commercial success. However, investment in science and technology remains one of the most effective ways to increase economic value. High-quality research should not only address current societal concerns, but also construct sustainable solutions for the future.
Reporter: Indira Akmalia Hendri (Urban and Regional Planning, class of 2021)
Translator: Muhammad Faiz Satrio Pradiansyah (Microbiology, class of 2022)
