PT GIH and ITEBA Partner to Launch “Student Career Inspiration” Program in Batam
In a significant move to bridge the gap between academia and industry, PT Galaksi Investasi Harapan (GIH) and the Institut Teknologi Batam (ITEBA) have officially strengthened their synergy through a new collaborative initiative. On Monday, April 13, 2025, representatives from PT GIH visited the ITEBA campus to coordinate a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program titled “Student Career Inspiration,” which is slated for implementation at the end of this year.
Empowering the Next Generation
The upcoming program is specifically designed to target approximately 200 students from across Batam. It aims to serve as a platform for self-development and motivation, helping young people navigate their future career paths through interactive and inspirational sessions.
According to Ibu Aurora Trimasidy, Finance and HR Manager at PT GIH, the program will feature three core pillars:
Career Inspiration Session: Providing insights into various professional opportunities.
Dream Workshop: Encouraging students to proactively design their future.
Sharing Session: Building self-confidence through direct interaction and personal experiences.
“Through this program, we want to provide inspiration while opening the horizons of students regarding various career opportunities in the future,” stated Ibu Aurora.
A Strategic Academic-Industry Link
PT GIH has formally invited ITEBA to act as a co-organizer for the event. This partnership will involve ITEBA’s lecturers and practitioners as keynote speakers, ensuring that the insights shared are not only industry-relevant but also grounded in solid academic perspectives.
Dr. Eng. Ansarullah Lawi, Vice Rector of ITEBA, welcomed the collaboration warmly. He emphasized that this initiative aligns with the institution’s commitment to supporting youth development in Batam. By participating, ITEBA reinforces its role in connecting the world of education with the practical needs of the industry.
A Lasting Partnership
This visit is more than just a planning session; it is a testament to the long-standing relationship between ITEBA and PT GIH. The synergy between these two entities extends beyond industry recruitment, focusing heavily on community empowerment through educational and motivational programs.
The ASEAN Paradox: Satellites in the Sky, Paperwork on the Floor
The global tech stage is often a theater of the “impossible” made real. On one side of the room, you’ll find engineers demonstrating how to beam high-speed internet to a lone fishing vessel in the middle of the Pacific. On the other, you’ll see satellite technology designed to bridge communication gaps in active conflict zones.
It is, by every definition, incredible. But as we look toward ATxEnterprise 2026, we have to ask a difficult question: Why is it easier to connect the middle of the ocean than it is to connect the middle of our supply chain?
The “Last Mile” of Digital Transformation
While the “hard parts” of physics and connectivity have been solved by mankind, the “human parts” of regional manufacturing are lagging behind. The reality of digital transformation in ASEAN today is a jarring paradox.
The Disconnect: We have the bandwidth to send a 47-page ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance document instantly, but we haven’t given the recipient the tools to process it.
The Burden: In manufacturing hubs like Batam, Johor, and Surabaya, production managers and SME owners are being hit with a wave of digital mandates—traceability data, EMS systems, and carbon reporting—without the foundational digital infrastructure to generate them.
For the small-to-medium enterprise (SME), “digital transformation” isn’t a buzzword; it’s a bureaucratic mountain.
Moving from Connectivity to Capability
If we want a resilient future, the conversation needs to shift. It is no longer enough to celebrate the technology that can exist; we must support the people who must use it.
The suppliers in Johor being squeezed for data and the managers in Surabaya facing Q1 deadlines are the backbone of the ASEAN economy. If they are left behind by the digital “vanguard,” the entire supply chain becomes brittle.
We need to look “down the supply chain” and bridge the gap between high-level innovation and ground-level implementation. This means focusing on:
Accessible Automation: Tools that don’t require a PhD to deploy.
Simplified Compliance: Using AI to turn 47-page documents into actionable task lists.
Digital Literacy: Ensuring the workforce in our industrial zones is as equipped as the engineers in our labs.
Join the Conversation at ATxEnterprise 2026
On 22nd May, I will be joining Asia Tech x Singapore to address this very gap. We will be diving into the “Future Workforce” and discussing how AI and automation can be democratized to serve the entire manufacturing ecosystem—not just the top 1%.
Event Details:
Session: Future Workforce: AI, Automation & Digital Transformation
Date & Time: 22nd May | 11:40 AM
Location: Singapore EXPO
The hard problems of physics are solved. Now, let’s solve the hard problems of progress.
Success in the industrial world is rarely a straight line; more often, it is a test of endurance. For PT. Galaksi Investasi Harapan (GIH), that test culminated on June 21, 2025, when the company was officially crowned “The Most Leading Manufacturing Enterprise of the Year.”
The accolade marks a definitive milestone for a firm that began with little more than a vision and an uncompromising work ethic.
A Decade of Defiance
The journey to the podium took 12 years of building from the ground up. In an era of “disruptive” shortcuts and rapid scaling, PT. GIH chose a different path:
Zero Shortcuts: Focusing on structural integrity and operational excellence.
No Safety Nets: Operating with the high-stakes pressure of a self-made enterprise.
Purpose-Driven Growth: Ensuring every expansion served a larger goal beyond just the bottom line.
Reflecting on the achievement, leadership acknowledged the darker days when the company’s survival was in question. The award is described not just as a corporate win, but as a testament to a team that remained steadfast when the landscape was “messy, uncertain, and tough.”
Strengthening the Batam Ecosystem
While the night belonged to PT. GIH, the celebration highlighted the rising tide of the entire region. The leadership extended particular praise to fellow industry giants, specifically PT. EX Batam and its President Director, Mr. Hideki Toda.
Their recognition in component manufacturing underscores a significant shift in the local economy. Batam is rapidly shedding its old identity as a simple labor hub and evolving into a sophisticated engine of innovation.
“Batam is no longer just a manufacturing hub—it’s becoming a driver of innovation. We are proud to grow alongside such resilience.”
The Road Ahead
Winning “Manufacturing Enterprise of the Year” is a finish line for a 12-year chapter, but PT. GIH views it as a starting block for the next decade. With the trophy in the cabinet and the “messy” years serving as a foundation of resilience, the company is already looking toward its next milestone.
Success in the industrial world is rarely a straight line; more often, it is a test of endurance. For PT. Galaksi Investasi Harapan (GIH), that test culminated on June 21, 2025, when the company was officially crowned “The Most Leading Manufacturing Enterprise of the Year.”
The accolade marks a definitive milestone for a firm that began with little more than a vision and an uncompromising work ethic.
A Decade of Defiance
The journey to the podium took 12 years of building from the ground up. In an era of “disruptive” shortcuts and rapid scaling, PT. GIH chose a different path:
Zero Shortcuts: Focusing on structural integrity and operational excellence.
No Safety Nets: Operating with the high-stakes pressure of a self-made enterprise.
Purpose-Driven Growth: Ensuring every expansion served a larger goal beyond just the bottom line.
Reflecting on the achievement, leadership acknowledged the darker days when the company’s survival was in question. The award is described not just as a corporate win, but as a testament to a team that remained steadfast when the landscape was “messy, uncertain, and tough.”
Strengthening the Batam Ecosystem
While the night belonged to PT. GIH, the celebration highlighted the rising tide of the entire region. The leadership extended particular praise to fellow industry giants, specifically PT. EX Batam and its President Director, Mr. Hideki Toda.
Their recognition in component manufacturing underscores a significant shift in the local economy. Batam is rapidly shedding its old identity as a simple labor hub and evolving into a sophisticated engine of innovation.
“Batam is no longer just a manufacturing hub—it’s becoming a driver of innovation. We are proud to grow alongside such resilience.”
The Road Ahead
Winning “Manufacturing Enterprise of the Year” is a finish line for a 12-year chapter, but PT. GIH views it as a starting block for the next decade. With the trophy in the cabinet and the “messy” years serving as a foundation of resilience, the company is already looking toward its next milestone.
The distance between a breakthrough in a university laboratory and a finished product on a factory floor is often measured in years—and all too frequently, it is a distance that is never crossed. On August 5th, at the INExCO UTM 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, a new solution was launched to bridge that divide: PlastIQ.
The launch took place before an audience of Malaysia and Indonesia’s premier STEM leaders, marking a pivotal shift in how we approach the relationship between academic research and industrial manufacturing.
The Problem: The “Paper Graveyard”
For years, a frustrating pattern has persisted in the scientific community. Brilliant researchers develop high-potential theories and innovative materials, only to face a set of insurmountable hurdles:
Theoretical Stagnation: Great research often remains confined to academic journals.
Invisible Innovation: Without a path to market, the world never sees the progress being made.
Industry Disconnect: Manufacturers often lack the specialized framework to test and adopt experimental research safely.
The Paper Gap: Life-changing solutions frequently stay on paper rather than becoming physical products.
“PlastIQ isn’t just another project; it’s a necessity. If we want more breakthroughs to become real-world solutions, we have to change the conversation between academia and industry.”
The Solution: What is PlastIQ?
PlastIQ was built to be the missing link in the polymer and manufacturing ecosystem. By creating a dedicated pipeline for research, PlastIQ ensures that “strong theory” becomes “shippable product” through a rigorous four-pillar process:
Selection: Identifying research with the highest potential for real-world application.
Testing: Moving beyond the lab to stress-test materials under industrial conditions.
Certification: Providing the necessary stamps of approval that industry requires to trust new materials.
Scaling: Transitioning from small-scale samples to high-volume manufacturing.
Why INExCO UTM 2025?
Launching at INExCO wasn’t a coincidence. As a hub where regional STEM priorities are set, it provided the perfect stage to foster tangible action rather than just discussion. By engaging with leaders from both Malaysia and Indonesia, PlastIQ is positioned at the heart of the region’s manufacturing future.
Let’s Build Together
The journey from a molecular formula to a manufactured part is complex, but it no longer has to be a dead end. Whether you are an academic with a breakthrough or a manufacturer facing a polymer challenge, the goal is the same: to turn theory into reality.
Imagine a child’s toy, resilient and vibrant – thank ABS for that durability and color stability. Envision the reliable food container in your fridge, safeguarding your meal’s freshness – that’s PP ensuring flexibility and chemical resistance.
Navigating through the dynamic world of plastics, ABS and PP emerge not just as materials but as architects of our daily experiences. Join us as we delve into the technical universe of ABS and PP, exploring their silent yet impactful presence in our everyday lives, and unraveling the science that makes them indispensable in product design.
