Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) is encouraged to become a center of excellence for the development of science and technology in Sumatra. This expectation was conveyed by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Brian Yuliarto, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., during the Discussion with the USU leadership and deans on Friday evening, September 25, 2026.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Brian Yuliarto, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., encouraged Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) to further strengthen its role as a center of excellence for the development of science and technology in Sumatra.

According to him, USU has a strategic position to become a leading institution in the development of science and technology in the Sumatra region. “In Sumatra and in Indonesia, USU is certainly one of the leading institutions in the development of science and technology,” said the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.

This was conveyed during the Discussion with the USU leadership and deans on Friday (September 25, 2026). Also present at the activity was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine USU, Dr. dr. Muara Panusunan Lubis, M.Ked(OG), Sp.OG, Subsp.K.Fm, along with the USU leadership and deans.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology also encouraged USU to strengthen its transformation toward becoming a research university and innovative university, so that research results do not stop at scientific publications but can be downstreamed and provide tangible benefits to society and the regional economy.

The strengthening of research, innovation, and downstreaming is in line with SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the development of education and human resource capacity, as well as SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) in promoting innovation, research, technology, and knowledge-based industrial development.

A campus with strong research and innovation capabilities, he said, can give rise to startups, new industries, and knowledge-based employment opportunities. Therefore, he hoped that USU could play a greater role as a center of excellence for science and technology in Sumatra. “State Universities with Legal Entity status (PTN-BH) such as USU must have the agility to seize this opportunity,” he said.

Rector of USU, Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., welcomed the expectation expressed by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. Prof. Muryanto said that the university had begun its transformation from a teaching university toward an innovative university. “Indeed, it is not easy. The ones who can make that change are ourselves, with the resources we have,” said Prof. Muryanto in front of the USU leadership and deans.