Singaraja, on (11/90) at the Undiksha General Seminar Building (GSU), Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) Undiksha, a Scientific Discussion was held with the theme “Invention-Based Technology Commercialization Strategy” with resource person Prof. Dr. Ir. I Gede Wenten, M.Sc., MH., IPU, scientific oration opened directly by the Dean of FMIPA Prof. Dr. I Nengah Suparta, M.Si participants in this scientific oration are lecturers, students, Chair of LPPM Undiksha, Head of AKPK Bureau, Chair of BPU Undiksha, Head of LSP Undiksha, Head of Undiksha Business Incubator, Head of Buleleng Regency Fisheries Service, Head of Buleleng Regency Industry Service, Head of BAPPEDA Buleleng Regency, Head of Buleleng Regency Tourism Office.
Prof. Dr. Ir. I Gede Wenten, M.Sc., MH., IPU is a lecturer at the ITB Chemical Engineering Department who spends most of his time in education and research. Always optimistic but remaining modest is his trademark. Prof. Dr. Ir. I Gede Wenten, M.Sc., MH., IPU is a phenomenal figure in the world of the membrane industry. The first patent as a result of his doctoral dissertation immediately received the attention of the membrane world and was even touted as the biggest revolution in the beer industry in the last 50 years. His first patent on beer clarification in Denmark was the work that first made his name. He also won the highest award from the Filtration Society in London, proof of the high level of innovation in his findings. Educational History Wenten was born 43 years ago in a small fishing family in Pengastulan Village, Seririt, Buleleng Regency, Bali. A difficult childhood life has forged him into an independent and hardworking person. He earned a bachelor’s degree in the Chemical Engineering Department of ITB in 1987. His life path then led him to continue his studies in Denmark. He received his master’s degree in 1990 and doctorate in 1995 from Denmark Technical University (DTU). While taking his doctoral program, he succeeded in discovering and patenting his first contribution to the world of membranes. Currently, he is active as a teaching staff in the Chemical Engineering Department of ITB. He has won awards and patents and his quality in the field of membranes has been recognized worldwide. He has won various awards from various institutions. Call it the “Suttle Award” from the Filtration Society in London, the highest award from that institution for researchers under the age of 35. This award was obtained for his work entitled “Mechanisms and Control of Fouling in Crossflow Microfiltration”, which was created in 1994. In the course of his career, he also succeeded in winning the “Adhikreati Engineering” award from the Indonesian Engineers Association in 1995, “The Science and Technology Award” from the Indonesia Toray Science Foundation in 1996, the “Young Indonesian Researcher” Award from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences in 1996, the Habibie Award in 2000, and the “WIPO Award” from WIPO-UNDP as “Best Inventor”, as well as the “RUT Award” from Ministry of Research and Technology in 2004. Apart from that, several patents have also been registered with the patent institutes of Indonesia, Japan, Canada, and the USA. However, unexpectedly, his favorite award, and apparently never listed on his CV, was being confirmed as the best ITB alumni ’82. “Getting recognition from your own friends is more difficult. The world can admit it, but even if it’s a friend, sometimes they still don’t want to admit it until they die’, was Wenten’s confession when asked why. “For me, this award is a moral burden to remain enthusiastic about working,” he continued. Vision and Mission in the World of Membranes Currently, the development of the world of membranes is very rapid and they are increasingly being used like mushrooms in the rainy season. However, membrane applications are still dominated by companies or industries that operate on a large scale. “Membranes can be used everywhere, membranes can be applied in all sectors, including households and meatball sellers,” that is the future of membranes in Wenten’s view. Apart from that, he is also determined to fight the notion that membranes are expensive and therefore not competitive. “Currently the price of membranes can be reduced to a quarter of the previous price so membranes can be very competitive,” he said convincingly. Membrane Applications in Industry and Medical The applications of membranes in industry are numerous. Currently, the most common applications are water purification and waste treatment. Industrial applications that are being developed in Indonesia, especially ITB, are in the medical field for the production of dialysis and Hemodialysis Machines. Biotechnology field for Single-Cell Protein Production, Cell recovery, and membrane bioreactors (MBR). Also in other fields such as sugar refining, starch processing, palm oil, ponds, and so on.
