Makassar, June 26, 2026 – The consortium of the Enhancing Sustainable and Green Leather Technology in Indonesia (ELEGTEC) project, funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ CBHE program, convened for a follow-up meeting and site visit at the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS), Makassar, from June 24–26, 2026. This meeting marked a crucial milestone for all partners as they evaluated the project’s achievements in its third and final year of implementation.
The event, hosted at the UNHAS Tamalanrea campus, was attended by approximately 25 consortium members representing 10 institutions, both national and European. The European partners present included Prof. Mete Mutlu and Prof. Hasan from EGE University (Turkey), Prof. Maurizia from the University of Pisa (Italy), and Prof. Vera Lymperopoulou from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. They were warmly received by the UNHAS host team, alongside national partners: Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Universitas Mataram (UNRAM), the Indonesian Leather Tanners Association (APKI), and the Center for Leather, Rubber, and Plastics of the Ministry of Industry.
The meeting was officially opened by Prof. Adi Maulana, Vice Rector for Partnership Affairs at Universitas Hasanuddin. In his address, he expressed his appreciation for the commitment of all parties in working together to advance the national leather industry. “International collaboration such as this is vital to transform Indonesia’s leather sector into a more modern, environmentally friendly, and globally competitive industry,” said Prof. Adi.
The primary objective of the series of meetings in Makassar was to review the project’s progress. The main agenda featured in-depth discussions on project management and financial aspects, led by representatives from EGE University, alongside evaluations of deliverables across each work package. The UNHAS team presented their readiness to conduct industry and student training programs, fulfilling their responsibilities under the designated work package.
A highlight of the second day’s activities was a visit to several laboratories at the UNHAS Faculty of Animal Science. The visit focused on the leather processing laboratory, which recently received new equipment through the ELEGTEC project. This served as tangible evidence that the project is not merely conceptual but is delivering direct impact by enhancing research and teaching facilities in Indonesia.
As part of its commitment to fostering close relationships, the delegation also enjoyed the cultural beauty of Makassar through a city tour and an unforgettable farewell dinner, complete with a relaxing cruise aboard an iconic Phinisi ship.
As the third-year meeting draws to a close, the ELEGTEC project is steadily advancing toward its primary goal: establishing Centers of Excellence for sustainable leather technology at three Indonesian universities—UGM, UNHAS, and UNRAM. It is hoped that these centers will become engines of innovation, driving the competitiveness of Indonesia’s leather industry on the global stage.
About the ELEGTEC Project. The ELEGTEC project is a collaborative initiative funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program. The project aims to advance sustainable and green leather technology in Indonesia through human resource development, the enhancement of laboratory facilities, and the strengthening of partnerships between academia, industry, and government.
