Shenzhen, China — Sekolah Vokasi of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), through the Center of Excellence (CoE) Medical Devices and Fabrication Laboratory & Plant (Fablab Jogja), participated in Maker Faire Shenzhen 2025, held on 15–18 November 2025 at the Vanke Cloud Design Commune, Nanshan, Shenzhen. This participation further strengthened UGM’s role in the global innovation ecosystem centered on digital fabrication, applied technology, and community empowerment, building upon the university’s previous strategic achievements in international innovation networks.
UGM was represented by Dr. Eng. Yosephus Ardean Kurnianto Prayitno, S.T., M.Eng. and Ahmat Hari Setiyawan, A.Md. The participation was supported by the Directorate of Business Development (Dir PU) of UGM, which provided institutional funding for Dr. Yosephus Ardean Kurnianto Prayitno, and by creative funding from Fablab Jogja, which facilitated the involvement of Ahmat Hari Setiyawan as a technical representative and Fab Lab manager. This support scheme reflects the synergy between university-level business development policies and community-based innovation initiatives.
At Maker Faire Shenzhen 2025, Fablab Jogja contributed as a speaker and facilitator, as well as an active member of the Fablab Asian Network (FAN), a regional Fab Lab network that promotes knowledge exchange, cross-country collaboration, and the strengthening of innovation ecosystems across Asia. During the event, Fablab Jogja delivered talks, workshops, and lab updates highlighting the Fab Camp Challenge, a program adapted from the Fab City Challengeand specifically designed for technology-driven community empowerment in Kulon Progo Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
The presentations showcased the implementation of Fab Camp Challenge 2023 and 2024, which integrates problem-based learning, engineering design, and digital fabrication to generate applied technology solutions. The program has produced a range of community-oriented prototypes and initiatives addressing waste management, sustainable agriculture, small-scale renewable energy, and appropriate technology, tailored to local needs and contexts.
As a key strategic outcome of the participation in Maker Faire Shenzhen 2025, Fablab Jogja established international collaboration commitments with several Fab Labs across Asia, including Gerlab Fablab (Mongolia), Super Fablab Kerala (India), Skylab Kamakura (Japan), Litchee Lab (China), and other Fab Labs within the FAN network. These collaborations are directed toward the development of joint programs, knowledge exchange, and cross-border projectsbased on open technologies and social innovation.
Building on these commitments, in 2026, Fablab Jogja and its international partners plan to implement a series of research, practice-based learning, and community engagement programs focusing on digital manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning. These initiatives will emphasize applied technologies addressing strategic issues such as renewable energy, waste management and circular economy, smart agriculture, and sustainable community technologies, in line with Fablab Jogja’s profile and track record as a community-oriented applied innovation hub.
UGM Sekolah Vokasi’s participation in Maker Faire Shenzhen 2025 and its follow-up initiatives contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through practice-oriented education, innovation ecosystem strengthening, and sustained international collaboration.