Medan, September 11, 2026 — The Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) continues to strengthen its research and innovation ecosystem in the pharmaceutical field through collaboration with industry. One such initiative is its collaboration with PT. Cosmotech Multi Mandiri to promote the downstreaming of research conducted by lecturers of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU, particularly in the field of cosmetics.
This collaboration forms part of efforts to bring research findings from the academic environment into the product development stage, creating added value and offering potential solutions to the needs of industry and society. This initiative aligns with a presentation entitled “Downstreaming Cosmetic Research in Indonesia: From Scientific Discovery to Value-Added Cosmetic Innovation,” held at the Faculty of Pharmacy USU on Friday, September 11, 2026.
The downstreaming of cosmetic research is an important process for bridging research findings with industrial needs. This process extends beyond scientific discovery and encompasses the stages of discovery, validation, formulation, scale-up, regulatory compliance, and commercialization. Each stage requires careful attention to safety and efficacy, standardization, stability testing, technology transfer, and product readiness for market entry.
Through collaboration with PT. Cosmotech Multi Mandiri, the Faculty of Pharmacy USU seeks to create opportunities for lecturers' research findings to be developed further in accordance with industrial needs and standards. Synergy between higher education institutions and industry is an important part of building a downstreaming ecosystem that encompasses research prototypes, testing laboratories, manufacturing, regulators, markets, and investors.
Indonesia itself has significant potential for developing research-based cosmetics and natural ingredients. Its rich biodiversity, including more than 3,000 medicinal plant species with potential applications as cosmetic raw materials, creates opportunities for developing active ingredients, formulations, branded products, and export markets.
In this context, research conducted by lecturers of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU can contribute to the development of science-based cosmetic innovations using local resources. North Sumatra, in particular, has several natural ingredients with development potential, including African leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), matoa leaf (Pometia pinnata), and gagatan harimau leaf (Ampelocissus thyrsiflora), which may serve various functions in cosmetic product development.
Collaboration with industry partners is also expected to strengthen the transformation of research outcomes from research-ready to market-ready. This is important because successful commercialization depends not only on research novelty but also on technology standardization, reproducibility, testing design, regulatory documentation, safety, product claims, production costs, and marketing strategies.
For the Faculty of Pharmacy USU, cooperation with PT. Cosmotech Multi Mandiri represents an effort to strengthen the relationship between higher education institutions and industry in developing research-based innovations. Cross-sector collaboration is expected to create broader opportunities for developing cosmetic products based on research and Indonesia's natural resources.
These efforts also align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, through strengthening economic activities and developing value-added industries. Furthermore, research and innovation based on local resources support SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, particularly through strengthening innovation and partnerships between higher education institutions and industry.
Through collaboration between the Faculty of Pharmacy USU and PT. Cosmotech Multi Mandiri, lecturers' research findings are expected to progress beyond scientific publications and continue to be developed into innovations and products that benefit society and industry while strengthening the competitiveness of Indonesia's national cosmetics industry.