BALIKPAPAN – Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) brought together approximately 1,000 participants at the BINTANG Dissemination and SPECTA Exhibition III – BINTANG Discovery Day Innovation Expo, a collaborative platform connecting research, education, government, industry, and communities to promote the use of biomass as an environmentally friendly material for battery development.

Carrying the theme “Biomass for Sustainable Battery Innovation for Future Generations,” the event, held at the Auditorium of ITK’s Integrated Laboratory 1, went beyond simply showcasing research results. BINTANG Discovery Day was designed to bring innovation out of the laboratory and closer to society through education, technology demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and strengthened collaboration networks.

Participants came from various backgrounds, including students, university communities, local residents, higher education institutions, local governments, research organizations, and industry partners. The event involved six senior and vocational high schools in Balikpapan, namely SMA Negeri 4 Balikpapan, SMA Negeri 5 Balikpapan, SMA Negeri 7 Balikpapan, SMA Negeri 9 Balikpapan, SMK Negeri 6 Balikpapan, and SMK Swasta Setia Budi. Each school was targeted to send 75 participants.

The program opened with an introduction to the BINTANG Dissemination Program and ITK Electrochemistry Research Center by Dr. Eng. Yunita Triana, M.Si. In her presentation, participants were introduced to the center’s research journey, ranging from the utilization of empty oil palm fruit bunch waste (TKKS), battery material development, to the fabrication of pouch cell and coin cell prototypes.

One of the key moments of the event was the signing of Cooperation Agreements (PKS) between ITK and several strategic partners, including Yayasan Mitra Hijau, the East Kalimantan Regional Research Agency (BRIDA), Bapedalitbang Balikpapan, Bapedalitbang Paser, and partner schools in Balikpapan.

These collaborations are part of ITK’s efforts to expand the impact of research while building an innovation ecosystem connected with local governments, educational institutions, communities, and industry. Through these partnerships, research outcomes are expected not only to end as publications or prototypes, but also to gain wider opportunities for dissemination, development, and practical utilization.

BINTANG Discovery Day also featured an Eco-Friendly Battery Experiment Workshop. During this session, participants not only learned about battery technology but also had the opportunity to explore the assembly process of pouch cell and coin cell battery prototypes based on TKKS waste together with researchers from ITK’s Electrochemistry Research Center. The workshop was facilitated by Winardi Dian Wahyu Pratama, S.T. and M. Bintang Adiputra, S.T.

Scientific literacy was further strengthened through a series of knowledge-sharing sessions. Dr. M. Ir. H. Fitriansyah, S.T., M.M. presented research and innovation as solutions for optimizing regional potential. Meanwhile, Dicky Edwin Hindarto highlighted the potential of biomass waste as a renewable energy resource in East Kalimantan, while Sujono Cipto Trisno, M.Pd. discussed the journey of biomass battery innovation from the laboratory to society.

The exhibition area also showcased various research outputs developed by ITK’s Electrochemistry Research Center. Visitors were able to explore research posters, battery materials, pouch cell and coin cell prototypes, as well as innovations based on oil palm waste and other biomass resources. The exhibition demonstrated how materials that were previously regarded as waste can be transformed into value-added resources to support future energy storage technologies.

For ITK, BINTANG Dissemination is a concrete effort to translate research into broader societal impact while strengthening scientific literacy among communities. The event also highlighted that sustainable energy innovation requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders, including researchers, students, government institutions, and society as potential users of technology.

With East Kalimantan’s significant biomass potential, the development of battery technologies based on local materials opens new opportunities for more environmentally sustainable energy research that is relevant to regional characteristics. Through BINTANG Discovery Day, ITK continues to encourage local potential not only to become a research subject, but also to develop into innovations that deliver tangible benefits.