Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (Unsoed) has made a new breakthrough in preparing for the 17th Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship (KMI) EXPO in 2026. The campus, located in Purwokerto, is committed to transforming this national event into a sustainable digital business ecosystem by partnering with national marketplace platforms. This step aims to ensure that students' innovative products are not merely showcased, but also gain broader and sustainable market access.

This strategic idea was presented directly by the Unsoed delegation during an audience with the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamendikti Sainstek), Prof. Fauzan, in Jakarta on Wednesday (29/7/2026). The meeting was led by the Vice Rector for Student and Alumni Affairs of Unsoed, Prof. Dr. Ir. Norman Arie Prayogo, accompanied by the Head of the Career Development and Entrepreneurship Unit (UPA), Dr. Ratna Stia Dewi, and the Chairperson of the Unsoed Career Portal, Niken Istikhari Muslihah.

Through integration with marketplaces, Unsoed aims to shift the paradigm of KMI EXPO, which has been dominated by temporary exhibitions, into a long-term commercial platform. The featured products of the finalists can later continue to be marketed digitally even after the entire series of official events has concluded.

Prof. Norman Arie Prayogo emphasized the importance of opening up real market access for students. According to him, KMI EXPO must serve as a real stepping stone for the birth of resilient young entrepreneurs in the digital era. He hopes that collaboration with the digital industry will help students' businesses continue to grow and become financially independent in the real market.

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Ratna Stia Dewi explained that the existence of a supporting ecosystem is crucial to boosting the ratio of young entrepreneurs in Indonesia. Students are deemed to need more than just training and competitions; they require continuous mentoring and real market networks to bridge their transition into the industrial world.

This innovative plan received positive appreciation from Prof. Fauzan. The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology assessed that utilizing digital technology through marketplaces will strengthen the concrete impact of KMI EXPO at the national level, while also serving as a model for other higher education institutions in developing adaptive student entrepreneurship programs.