InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — A total of 139 student teams from 35 universities across Indonesia participated in the 2025 National Palm Oil Hackathon, a nationwide digital innovation competition organized by the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) in collaboration with the Palm Oil Fund Management Agency (BPDP).
With the theme “Accelerating Palm Oil’s Socio-Economic Role Through Digital Innovation,” the event serves as a platform for young innovators to create technology-based solutions that enhance the social and economic value of palm oil—from upstream to downstream sectors.
Encouraging Collaboration and Digital Innovation
Held online from August to November 2025, the event included meet the mentors sessions, intensive mentoring, and a final judging stage. Out of 118 teams that passed the preliminary selection, four best teams emerged after a rigorous assessment focusing on economic impact, sustainability, technical feasibility, and scalability potential.
GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono emphasized that Indonesia’s palm oil industry holds vast potential for continued growth through digital transformation.
“Through the National Palm Oil Hackathon 2025, we hope to see new technologies—ranging from AI applications and digitalization systems to new business models—that can improve palm oil governance,” Eddy said.
He added that the initiative also reinforces synergy between industry, academia, and government to accelerate sustainable innovation in the national palm oil sector.
The Four Winning Teams
1st Place — Team BiFlow (ITS Surabaya): RAPIDS: A Machine Learning-Based Non-Invasive Radar Innovation for Early Detection of Ganoderma Boninense in Oil Palm. Prize: Rp 75,000,000 + certificate.
2nd Place — Team SawITSmart (ITS Surabaya): AI-Based Robotic Modernization for Precision Fertilization and Sustainable Monitoring in Palm Plantations. Prize: Rp 50,000,000 + certificate.
3rd Place — Team Jos Sawit (PENS Surabaya): Portable AI & IoT for Palm Monitoring, Mapping, and Prediction. Prize: Rp 30,000,000 + certificate.
Special Category – Most Disruptive Business Model — Team Tancap.in (ITB): TANCAP: Precision Digitalization for Sustainable Palm Productivity. Prize: Rp 20,000,000 + certificate.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Palm Innovators
The National Palm Oil Hackathon 2025 proves that the digital transformation of the palm oil industry is now being driven by the fresh ideas of young innovators. Through this program, GAPKI and BPDP are not only creating a competitive space but also expanding an innovation ecosystem that supports efficiency, sustainability, and the welfare of palm oil stakeholders.
This initiative represents a concrete step toward a more inclusive, productive, and globally competitive digitalized palm oil industry—where technology becomes not just a tool, but the driving engine of Indonesia’s sustainable palm oil future. (T2)
