Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) has taken a strategic step to optimize the potential of academic research, making it more relevant to market needs. This concrete step is realized through the establishment of a new work unit, namely the Division of Innovation and Business Management, specifically designed to facilitate the downstreaming of research outputs and strengthen institutional business governance.
During the inauguration ceremony held at Baruga A.P. Pettarani on Tuesday (7/7), Prof. Dr. Amir Ilyas, S.H., M.H., was officially inaugurated as the Vice Rector for the new division. Prof. Amir, who previously served as Deputy Dean for Partnership, Research, and Innovation at the Unhas Graduate School, is considered to have a strong track record to lead the university's business transformation.
The establishment of this division is a response to modern demands so that higher education innovations do not stop in the laboratory, but can be broadly applied to society and industry. Previously, innovation and business development functions were combined under a broader division. This separation was carried out so that management focus becomes more targeted, sustainable, and professional.
Prof. Amir Ilyas emphasized that his main focus is to bridge the gap between scientific work and industrial needs. He is optimistic that with the right ecosystem—ranging from intellectual property protection to business incubation—Unhas's innovation products will be highly competitive, both nationally and internationally.
While acknowledging challenges from competition with other universities that are already established in innovation systems, Prof. Amir remains confident in Unhas's great potential. The commitment of university leadership and solid collaboration across the academic community serve as Unhas's main capital to create tangible economic impact through quality research outcomes.
