Balikpapan — Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) has once again recorded a proud achievement in student entrepreneurship. A total of five ITK student teams have successfully passed the 2026 Student Entrepreneurship Development Program (P2MW) selection organized by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.

This achievement reflects the growing entrepreneurial spirit among ITK students through creative, innovative, and socially relevant business ideas. Beyond product development, the five selected teams also present ideas that address sustainability, community empowerment, local product downstreaming, circular economy, and the use of technology in cultivation.

The success is even more meaningful considering that P2MW is a competitive national program participated in by universities across Indonesia. Through this program, students are encouraged to develop businesses that are not only economically valuable, but also sustainable, measurable, and impactful.

Five ITK Teams Selected for P2MW 2026

The five ITK student teams that successfully passed the P2MW 2026 selection are as follows.

1. Ecoboo

Category: Early Stage — Services, Tourism, and Trade
Team Leader: Anastasya Husnul Syauira
Supervisor: Eko Agung Syaputra, M.Ds.

Ecoboo promotes bamboo product innovation through community empowerment-based workshops as a branding pillar for Bamboe Wanadesa Balikpapan ecotourism. This program introduces an entrepreneurial approach that focuses not only on product creation, but also on strengthening local tourism identity, creative education, and community involvement.

Through Ecoboo, ITK students aim to transform bamboo into a value-added material that can be developed into creative products while supporting local potential-based ecotourism.

2. DECRAB

Category: Early Stage — Food and Beverage
Team Leader: Iqbal Zhaputro
Supervisor: Novita Lizza Anggraini, S.K.M.

DECRAB is an innovative downstreaming initiative that transforms rejected export-grade soft-shell crab into nutritious instant side dishes. This idea responds to challenges in absorbing fishery products while opening opportunities to increase economic value for crab farmers.

Through a practical food product approach, DECRAB seeks to deliver a solution aligned with modern consumption trends, especially the demand for convenient, nutritious, and locally valuable instant food.

3. SAMOrchid

Category: Growth Stage — Cultivation
Team Leader: Yury Kasih Amalia Nur Aisyah
Supervisor: Prasis Damai Nursyam Hamijaya, S.P., M.M.

SAMOrchid develops the concept of Smart Agriculture Multiproduct Orchid through seedling orchid cultivation innovation based on smart irrigation. This innovation combines smart farming technology with a multiproduct business model and sustainable partnerships.

The program demonstrates how the cultivation sector can be developed through technology utilization, efficient resource management, and adaptive business strategies. SAMOrchid also has the potential to strengthen the creative economy and ornamental plant cultivation ecosystem in Balikpapan.

4. Recraft

Category: Growth Stage — Creative Industry, Arts, and Culture
Team Leader: Achmad Zaki Zaidan
Supervisor: Nursanti Novi Arisa, M.Kom.

Recraft transforms plastic and textile waste into sustainable fashion products accented with East Kalimantan batik. Through a circular economy approach, Recraft presents an innovation that combines environmental awareness, creativity, and local cultural preservation.

The products developed are not only aesthetically valuable, but also carry a strong sustainability message. Recraft serves as an example of how waste can be processed into economically valuable products while strengthening regional cultural identity.

5. Shell e Merch

Category: Growth Stage — Creative Industry, Arts, and Culture
Team Leader: Dian Fatikha Rizki Aminoto
Supervisor: Muh Ikhsan Alif S., M.Sc.

Shell e Merch focuses on developing creative merchandise with aesthetic and economic value by utilizing plastic, metal, and paper waste. This innovation supports waste reduction efforts while creating creative products with market potential.

Through Shell e Merch, ITK students show that materials often considered worthless can be transformed into attractive, functional, and marketable merchandise. This idea aligns with the spirit of circular economy and efforts to support a waste-free Indonesia.

Student Entrepreneurship Close to Real-World Issues

The five selected teams reflect the increasingly strong entrepreneurial character of ITK students. Their ideas stand out not only in terms of creativity, but also in their connection to real issues faced by society.

Ecoboo brings the spirit of community empowerment and ecotourism. DECRAB addresses the challenge of fishery product downstreaming. SAMOrchid utilizes technology for sustainable cultivation. Meanwhile, Recraft and Shell e Merch develop creative products based on circular economy principles.

These innovations show that ITK students are able to identify local potential, recognize problems, and transform them into entrepreneurial opportunities with added value.

Strengthening the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem at ITK

The success of these five teams is also part of ITK’s efforts to strengthen the student entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through lecturer mentoring, business idea development, product validation, and business model improvement, students are encouraged not only to become job seekers, but also opportunity creators.

P2MW serves as an important platform for students to learn how to build businesses more systematically. Students do not only prepare proposals, but also develop products, test markets, build networks, manage teams, and design sustainable business strategies.

Towards KMI Expo 2026

After passing the P2MW 2026 selection, the five ITK teams are expected to continue refining their innovations and strengthening their business readiness. The next stage will be an important momentum to improve products, strengthen branding, develop marketing strategies, and prove that their business ideas can create real impact.

ITK hopes that the five teams can continue their achievements to KMI Expo 2026 and bring honor to the university at the national level. Support from supervisors, study programs, faculties, and the entire academic community will be an important source of energy for students to keep growing.

This achievement proves that ITK students have great potential to create start-up businesses that are creative, adaptive, and impactful. With the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, ITK continues to encourage the emergence of young entrepreneurs who can contribute to society, the environment, and regional development.