Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho Signs Letter of Intent with Industry Partner at GIFTS 2026 to Explore Commercialization of Soil Moisture Monitoring Technology

Yogyakarta, October 21, 2026: Andri Prima Nugroho, a researcher at the Smart Agriculture Research Center, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, participated in the Business Matchmaking session during the Global Innovation & Future Technology Summit (GIFTS) 2026 held at the UGM Innovation and Creativity Forum (GIK). During the event scheduled for October 21–22, 2026, Andri signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with an industry partner from the KADIN network, who expressed interest in the soil moisture monitoring equipment innovation.

This participation provided Smart Agri with an opportunity to connect research outcomes with user needs in the industrial sector. Through meetings with business practitioners, innovations developed within the higher education environment can be introduced to potential partners who have needs for technology application in the field.

The innovation that drew partner attention is a patent titled AUTOMATIC INTEGRATED CLOUD-BASED SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING EQUIPMENT, with patent number IDS000007361. This technology is also known as the SmartAgri SMC Monitoring System. The system was developed to monitor soil moisture conditions at three soil layers, accompanied by observations of soil temperature and microclimate conditions. Observation data is provided through a web application, allowing field conditions to be monitored remotely with internet connectivity support.

This information can serve as input for understanding water dynamics at various soil layers and support decision-making for agricultural and plantation water management. This approach places field condition measurement as the foundation for providing information to users, so that technology application can be linked to specific management needs.

The GIFTS 2026 Business Matchmaking brought together UGM inventors with industry partners to explore the development and utilization of innovations. The event was organized by UGM's Directorate of Business Development together with KADIN DIY. This forum provided a space for researchers and business practitioners to connect research capacity with technology application needs.

The signing of the LoI was a notable outcome from Andri's participation in the event. The partner's interest in soil moisture monitoring innovation opens opportunities for further discussion regarding user needs and the possibility of technology utilization. The scope and next steps of cooperation still need to be clarified with the partner based on follow-up documentation and communication.

Smart Agri's involvement in this forum demonstrates an effort to bring research results closer to users. Communication between researchers and industry is expected to continue in order to identify appropriate forms of collaboration, while also supporting the development of agricultural technology that is relevant to field needs.