MEDAN – An opportunity for university students to develop their research ideas and creativity is now available through the 2026–2027 Student Research Competition organized by the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP). This program provides a platform for students to produce innovative and applicable research that contributes to the development of Indonesia's plantation sector.

Through this competition, selected student teams may receive research funding of up to IDR 20,000,000 per proposal, with a research implementation period of eight months. The program aims to encourage critical thinking, strengthen scientific research capabilities, and generate innovative ideas and solutions relevant to the needs of the plantation sector.

Team Formation Requirements

Participants must form teams consisting of 3–5 students from the same university, subject to the following requirements:

  1. Each team must consist of a student leader and student members.
  2. Each team must be supervised by one academic advisor, who is not included in the student team count.
  3. All team members must come from the same university, although they may belong to different faculties or study programs.
  4. Each team may select only one research topic or idea, such as bioenergy or post-harvest research.

Registration Requirements and Documents

The main documents that must be prepared include:

  • Research proposal.
  • Proposal endorsement sheet.
  • Active Student Certificates for the team leader and all team members.

Account creation and proposal submission must be completed by the team leader. An official introductory letter from the university may be submitted after the team has been selected for funding. During the initial registration stage, applicants may use the endorsement sheet on page two of the research proposal.

The Integrity Pact, Data Repository Statement, and Statement of Willingness to Utilize Research Results are not mandatory for this competition's registration process.

Research Funding and Implementation

Selected teams may receive funding of up to IDR 20,000,000 per proposal, with a research period of eight months. Research activities may be conducted alongside regular academic coursework and do not require full-time participation at a designated location. Research may take place on campus or in the students' hometowns, depending on the research requirements and methodology.

Registration and Further Information

Students can access complete information regarding eligibility, required documents, and registration procedures through the official platforms:

For questions or registration-related difficulties, participants can contact the Jivo Chat customer service available on the Student Research Competition website. Administrative assistance is available daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

Through this initiative, students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sumatera Utara, are encouraged to participate by developing innovative research ideas, particularly those relevant to economic development, entrepreneurship, industry, and the plantation sector.

The 2026–2027 BPDP Student Research Competition supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through strengthening research culture and students' academic competencies, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through innovation that can increase the added value of the plantation sector, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through applicable research and technological development. The program also has the potential to contribute to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by encouraging research that promotes more effective and sustainable management of plantation resources.