UMS and PLN Seal Deal on Sustainable Energy Research

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) received an official visit from PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Cooperation Agreement (PKS). The meeting took place in the Board of Trustees (BPH) meeting room at UMS on Thursday (13/11/2025).

This activity also involved the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti) as a strategic partner in strengthening national research and innovation collaboration in the fields of energy and electricity.

In his remarks, UMS Vice Rector IV Prof. dr. Dr. Em Sutrisna, M.Kes., who attended on behalf of UMS Rector Prof. Harun Joko Prayitno, M.Hum., expressed appreciation for PLN’s visit and trust in UMS.

“We at UMS are very pleased with PLN’s presence, as this will strengthen relations between PLN and UMS in our shared mission to advance the nation,” he said.

He added that this collaboration is an important step for UMS to continue expanding its research partnership network and to position the university as a center for developing sustainable energy solutions.

“Our hope is that through this collaboration, UMS can contribute more concretely to society and the country through applicable research,” he continued.

Through its synergy with PLN, UMS hopes to strengthen the contribution of its academic community in creating innovative solutions in the energy sector and to open opportunities for students and lecturers to be directly involved in nationally scaled applied research.

“UMS welcomes this partnership as a form of implementing the university’s vision to position higher education institutions as centers of knowledge that actively contribute to national progress,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, PLN’s Director of Distribution, Arsyadany G. Akmalaputri, S.T., M.M., QRGP., CRGP., underlined the crucial role of universities in supporting the advancement of the national energy sector.

“We intend to establish a collaboration with UMS. Academic expertise is greatly needed so their work can have a direct impact on institutions such as PLN,” he stated.

He also highlighted that PLN seeks to foster synergy with leading universities in Indonesia to accelerate innovation in the electricity sector.

“With this collaboration, we hope to bring meaningful change and progress in Indonesia’s electricity sector, especially through the involvement of experts from prominent universities like UMS,” he added.

Through this collaboration, he continued, PLN and UMS agreed to establish a strategic partnership. This cooperation aligns with PLN’s vision as the company advances its sustainable energy transformation through four key pillars: Green, Lean, Innovative, and Customer Focused.

“The collaboration with UMS is expected to become a concrete step in expanding research and innovation networks, particularly in the development of new and renewable energy, smart grid systems, and efforts to accelerate the transition toward environmentally friendly electrical technologies,” emphasized the PLN Director of Distribution.

This collaboration marks a new milestone in the relationship between higher education institutions and national strategic industries. UMS and PLN are committed to continuously developing research innovations that offer broad benefits while strengthening the nation’s competitiveness in facing global challenges in the energy sector.

Writer: Dwi Kurniadi

Editor: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid