 Technology Business Office (TBO) is an autonomous unit under the Department of Food Science and Technology, which is designed to coordinate Department outreach program. Under TBO is a Food Industrial Teaching System (FITS), which is a model of small-scale food industry to facilitate students with industrial working atmosphere and experience in order to give knowledge and skill required by the real industry .
Facilitated by a semi-commercial food production unit, such as thermal processing line and bakery line, FITS has developed a model of business unit, which is managed professionally under PT FITS Mandiri. PT FITS Mandiri has produced various food products, such as fruit pickle in cup (Asinan), nata de coco in cup, cocktail in cup, cookies and various drinks. These products are originated from the research findings conducted by staff/students. The products have been marketed in Jakarta , Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi, Bandung and surroundings. To market its product, PT FITS Mandiri has also a mission to produce safe and high quality products as alternative street foods for school children. One of the programs is “Food Safety Program for School Students”, which has targeted 200 schools in Jabotabek as market place of its products. The expansion of TBO activity from industrial teaching model into a business unit model has supported the educational program in Department. The students have opportunity to involve in TBO activities in form of final task project (research/internship), capstone course (Integrated Practical Work) or as a part-time worker. The involvement of students in TBO activities can increase the competency of students for working in food industries and train their entrepreneurial skill.
With the past experience of Technology Business Office as described above and the numerous of potential applicative research findings to be commercialized, FITS has capacity to facilitate a scaling up of the technology/invention from the laboratory scale to pilot plant scale. This step is important before the technology adoption by food industries. With increasing demand to initiate various forms of mutual partnerships with food industries, FITS has also opportunity to provide outreach services in form of food product development, training, and consultation services.
TBO has expanded its activities to the following areas:
- Collaboration development in technology transfer and novel food product and process development from the Department to food industries, particularly applicative technology based on indigenous resources, such as sweet potato and corn. In this respect, Department becomes a home base of developing technologies through conducting applied researches, while food industry becomes a home base of adopting and implementing technologies in real production activities. The technology is also applicable to small, medium and large scale industry.
- Collaboration development in training, technical and quality management consultations and/or problem solving, and marketing and business plan assistance that support the industry to produce good quality, safe and marketable food products.
Further information, please contact Technology Business Office (Contact person: Dr. Slamet Budijanto), Phone/Fax. (0251) 626160 or E-mail: foodtech@indo.net.id.
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