Balikpapan - Another proud achievement has been made by students of the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK). The team, consisting of Angelika Putri Fadilla (Physics), Aprilla Herlianti (Industrial Engineering), and Ahmad Ihwan Nor Ifandi (Civil Engineering), successfully won 2nd Place at the National Level in the Sharia Economic Competition 2025, organized by Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta (UPNVJ).

Under the supervision of Rahmania, S.Pd., M.Sc., the team presented their work titled “JEMPOL: Jembatani Potensi Langsung – Innovation for Halal MSMEs Without Speculation”, a digital concept designed to strengthen Indonesia’s halal economic ecosystem.

Background: Halal MSMEs Need Real Solutions 

Amid the rapid growth of the creative economy sector, many halal MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) players in Indonesia still face major challenges in promotion, market access, and transparency. Many promising local products remain underexposed due to the lack of reliable and secure platforms.

Responding to this issue, the ITK team developed JEMPOL, a digital innovation that connects halal MSME entrepreneurs directly with consumers in a transparent, fair, and speculation-free manner.

JEMPOL Innovation: Digitalizing Halal MSMEs Through a Sharia-Based Platform 

JEMPOL (Jembatani Potensi Langsung) is a digital platform based on Islamic economic principles designed to bridge halal MSMEs and consumers. The platform not only facilitates buying and selling but also features halal verification, digital marketing training, trust-based review systems, and collaborative learning spaces for halal business development.

By combining technology and sharia principles, JEMPOL serves as a tangible solution to build a sustainable halal MSME ecosystem. This innovation is expected to boost Indonesia’s digital economy growth and strengthen its position as a global hub for the halal economy.

Winning 2nd Place at the National Level is clear evidence that ITK students excel not only in technology but also in promoting community empowerment and sustainable local businesses.

“We are proud to represent ITK at the national level. Through this competition, we learned the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and innovation. We hope other ITK students will continue to create and bring positive impacts to both the campus and society,” said the team representative.

 This achievement reinforces Institut Teknologi Kalimantan’s reputation as a university that actively promotes cross-disciplinary innovation, integrating technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainability values. Through innovations like JEMPOL, ITK students prove that technology can serve as a bridge toward economic justice and empowerment for halal-based communities.