Jakarta, 19 May 2026 — The momentum of National Awakening Day underscores the important role of younger generations in driving the nation’s long-term development, highlighting the need to nurture their skills, innovation, and leadership.

As part of its commitment to continuously grow and bring goodness, PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk (Indofood) plays an active role in presenting various human resource development programs in Indonesia. This commitment is reflected in the Indofood Riset Nugraha (IRN) Program, a research grant initiative for undergraduate students that encourages the exploration of the potential for developing functional food innovations rooted in Indonesia’s rich and diverse local wisdom.

This year, IRN marks exactly two decades of implementation, a testament to a consistent commitment to supporting the growth of an innovative, adaptive, and high-quality generation of young Indonesian researchers to deliver a real impact for the community and the nation.

First launched in 2006, the Indofood Riset Nugraha Program was established as a continuation of the Bogasari Nugraha Program, which was initiated in 1998 by Bogasari Flour Mills, one of Indofood's strategic business groups. It was introduced as a research assistance program to support the development of wheat and wheat flour-based food products.

Stefanus Indrayana, Head of Corporate Communications at PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk, stated: "This year marks the 20th year of the Indofood Riset Nugraha Program, a milestone that reflects our continued commitment to supporting Indonesia’s young researchers. In line with the spirit of National Awakening Day, we hope IRN will continue to inspire young Indonesians to become innovative scientific-preneurs who can transform the nation’s local food potential into impactful solutions and sustainable business opportunities for the benefit of society."

Two Decades of Commitment to Excellent Young Researchers

Over its two decades of implementation, the Indofood Riset Nugraha Program has received more than 8,300 research proposals and funded over 1,100 student research projects from more than 200 universities and higher education institutions across Indonesia, spanning from Aceh to Papua.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Purwiyatno Hariyadi, M.Sc, Professor at IPB and Chairman of the IRN Expert Team, explained: "The younger generation, including young researchers, are the main driving force in addressing the complexities of Indonesia's future challenges. To realize the vision of 'Indonesia Emas' (Golden Indonesia), we need a generation of researchers who are not only academically bright but also brave enough to explore and innovate, especially in optimizing local potential and wisdom to create future solutions. This is where IRN steps in, not only supporting academic research but also helping to build a critical, creative, brave, and innovative mindset, while encouraging students to network and constantly develop their capacity to deliver a real impact for society."

In addition to research funding, the consistent execution of IRN over 20 years has been supported by a multidisciplinary team of experts from various leading universities in Indonesia. Experts from the fields of food technology, socio-economics, agriculture, animal husbandry, nutrition and health, fisheries and marine sciences, genetics and molecular biotechnology, as well as industry practitioners, are actively involved in providing mentorship. Their involvement spans from the research proposal selection process and guidance to evaluating the students' research outcomes.

Furthermore, IRN participants are equipped with soft skills training, which is specifically required to build the character of excellent and resilient young researchers.

IRN's dedication to supporting education and research development has also received widespread recognition at both national and international levels. Some of the awards received include: the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards 2010 from Enterprise Asia, the Ministry of Education and Culture's Peduli Pendidikan Award 2011, and the Tempo Award for The Best CEO Outstanding Support for Student Academic Research presented to the CEO of Indofood in 2024.

Strategic Collaboration Between Business and Academia, Answering Future Challenges

The Indofood Riset Nugraha Program brings a collaborative spirit that bridges industry players and the academic world. "As one of the leading food and beverage companies in Indonesia, Indofood views collaboration with academia as a crucial element in building a credible and sustainable research ecosystem," added Stefanus Indrayana.

For the past two decades, IRN has consistently focused on research themes that address the future needs of Indonesia’s food sector. “Functional Food Research Based on Local Potential and Wisdom” is one of the featured themes, highlighting the significant potential of the country’s food resources and the role of research-based innovation in maximizing their value.

"Indonesia is blessed with an immense wealth of local and functional foods. The challenge lies in ensuring that research does not just stop in the laboratory, but is capable of transforming that potential into future food solutions that provide a double impact: improving public health while driving the community's economy," explained Prof. Dr. Ir. Purwiyatno Hariyadi, M.Sc.

Cross-Generational Alumni Network as a Driving Force

During its 20-year journey, the Indofood Riset Nugraha Program has successfully built a cross-generational and cross-regional alumni network that now thrives across various sectors, including researchers, professionals, academics, entrepreneurs, and food innovation drivers. The achievements of these alumni serve as a real representation of IRN's impact in supporting human resource development in Indonesia.

Prof. Dr. Fenny Martha Dwivany, an IRN alumna from the class of 2004 who currently serves as a Professor at ITB and an active researcher, mentioned that IRN played a vital role in shaping a critical mindset. "My experience with IRN helped equip me to grow into a critical, systematic researcher who always prioritizes a collaborative spirit for impactful innovation." Similarly, Mariska Priscilla, an IRN alumna from the class of 2017 who has now joined Indofood's R&D team, noted that the mentorship from the expert team during IRN shaped a more solution-oriented mindset, where research is viewed not merely as a theory, but as a solution relevant to industry and community needs.

The impact of IRN alumni has also expanded globally. One of whom is Ratu Salsabila Astrakusuma, an IRN alumna from the class of 2023, who is currently continuing her journey as a scientific research enthusiast in Lille, France. "IRN provided me with the foundation of courage to develop various food potentials into competitive innovation opportunities," added Ratu.

Through the momentum of National Awakening Day, Indofood hopes IRN can continue to inspire the awakening of the spirit of Indonesia's younger generation. "We hope that through IRN, Indofood can remain part of the journey to fostering Indonesian innovators and changemakers capable of bringing positive impacts to society and the nation," concluded Stefanus Indrayana.

Indofood Riset Nugraha 2026 - 2027

This year, the Indofood Riset Nugraha Program will return to provide research support for undergraduate (S1) students across Indonesia. The IRN 2026–2027 program timeline will begin with socialization roadshows to various universities and colleges in June 2026, followed by the opening of registrations until late August 2026, and the selection process by the IRN expert team.

The announcement of research fund recipients is scheduled for mid-September 2026. The program will culminate in October 2026 with the IRN 2026–2027 Signing Ceremony and the National Food Symposium, serving as a platform to recognize outstanding research initiatives while fostering dialogue and collaboration to advance food innovations that support Indonesia’s future development.

Complete information regarding registration, research themes, and the Indofood Riset Nugraha 2026 Program schedule is available on the website www.indofoodrisetnugraha.com and Instagram @rumahindofood.