BALIKPAPAN — Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) has once again achieved a notable accomplishment in student entrepreneurship. Four ITK student business teams have officially qualified as participants in the 17th Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship Expo (KMI Expo XVII) 2026, a national event that brings together innovative student ventures from universities across Indonesia.

The announcement was issued by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs through Letter Number 3476/DST/B2/DT.01.03/2026 dated September 8, 2026, concerning the Selection Results for KMI Expo XVII 2026 Participants. The selection followed the Progress Assessment (PKP) stage of the Student Entrepreneurship Development Program (P2MW) and the participant selection process for KMI Expo XVII 2026.

The four ITK ventures that successfully advanced to KMI Expo XVII 2026 offer diverse business ideas, ranging from community empowerment and food innovation to sustainable fashion and creative merchandise development.

The selected business teams are:

1. Bamboo Product Innovation through Community Empowerment-Based Workshops as a Branding Pillar for Bamboo Wanadesa Ecotourism in Balikpapan
    Category: Services, Tourism, and Trade – Early Stage.
    This venture explores the potential of bamboo through a community empowerment approach while supporting the development of a stronger local ecotourism identity. 
2. DECRAB Innovative Downstream Processing: A Strategic Solution for Utilizing Soft-Shell Crabs Rejected from Export Markets to Improve Farmers’ Welfare and Meet Demand for Nutritious Instant Side Dishes
    Category: Food and Beverage – Early Stage.
    This innovation transforms soft-shell crab products that are not absorbed by the export market into value-added food products. 
3. Recraft: Transforming Plastic and Textile Waste into Sustainable Fashion with East Kalimantan Batik Accents through a Circular Economy Approach for Local Community Empowerment
    Category: Creative Industries, Arts, and Culture – Growth Stage.
    Recraft combines circular economy principles, environmental awareness, and local cultural heritage through the development of sustainable fashion products. 
4. Shell e Merch: Innovative Development of Creative Merchandise with Aesthetic and Economic Value through the Utilization of Plastic, Metal, and Paper Waste to Support Indonesia’s Waste-Free 2029 Initiative
    Category: Creative Industries, Arts, and Culture – Growth Stage.
    This venture transforms waste materials into creative merchandise with both aesthetic and economic value. 

The achievement of these four teams demonstrates that student entrepreneurship at ITK is not only focused on developing products and business opportunities, but also on addressing real challenges in society. The ideas being developed incorporate key issues such as sustainability, local potential development, circular economy, community empowerment, and food innovation as integral parts of their business models.

The selected teams will next participate in KMI Expo XVII 2026, scheduled for September 29–October 1, 2026, at Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Banyumas. During the event, the qualified teams will also have the opportunity to take part in the KMI Award assessment alongside participants from universities across Indonesia.

ITK’s participation in KMI Expo XVII provides an important opportunity for students to expand their networks, test the competitiveness of their products, gain valuable business experience, and introduce ITK student innovations at the national level. This achievement also strengthens students’ motivation to continue developing businesses that not only generate economic value, but also create meaningful social and environmental impact.

Congratulations to the four ITK student business teams that have successfully advanced to KMI Expo XVII 2026. It is time to bring innovations from Bumi Etam to a wider national stage.

SPECTA!! For the Creator and Bumi Etam!