Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening campus innovation through intellectual property (IP) protection and halal certification during the Muhammadiyah Intellectual Property & Halal Advancement (MIPHA X CAMPUS) event.
Carrying the theme “Synergy of Intellectual Property & Halal Industry: Strengthening Innovation and Halal Certification through Intellectual Property Protection in Higher Education,” the event was held on Thursday (Aug 14) at UMSU’s Faculty of Law Auditorium, bringing together practitioners, academics, and key stakeholders from the halal industry.
The event was officially opened by UMSU Vice Rector I, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin, M.Hum., who emphasized the importance of integrating IP and halal certification into the university’s research roadmap. He outlined three strategic steps: embedding IP and halal aspects in research, assisting inventors in securing patents and halal certification, and fostering industry collaboration for product commercialization.
Chairman of UMSU’s Intellectual Property Center (PPKI), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faisal Riza, S.H., M.H., stressed that IP protection is the foundation of sustainable innovation. “Without IP protection, the university’s flagship research could easily be claimed by others. Synergy with the Halal Center will accelerate the downstreaming of products that are not only innovative but also compliant with sharia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Head of UMSU Halal Center, Dr. Ir. Desi Ardilla, M.Si., highlighted the vast opportunities in the global halal industry, projected to reach USD 7.7 trillion by 2025. “Halal certification is not just a label, but a guarantee of consumer safety and market access. This is the right momentum for UMSU to position itself as a halal hub in Sumatra,” she added.
As a tangible proof of its commitment to IP protection, UMSU presented Simple Patent Certificates for two flagship innovations: “OIF UMSU Earth Orbit Column” by Dr. Arwin Juli Rakhmad Butar-Butar, M.A., Prof. Dr. Akrim, S.Pd., M.Pd., and Abu Yazid Raisal, M.Pd., and “Concrete Mix Composition in Contact with Seawater” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fahrizal Zulkarnain, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D. The session also featured an expert presentation on “One Innovation, Double Protection.”
Key speakers delivered insights on topics ranging from the importance of building a culture of IP registration (Sahata Marlen Situngkir, S.H., M.Si.), UMSU’s potential to become an independent halal certification body (Elvina A. Rahayu, MP), to the Fast Track Halal Certification scheme (Dr. Ir. Desi Ardilla, M.Si.).
Closing the session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faisal Riza underlined the “One Innovation, Double Protection” strategy—stating that every UMSU innovation must be protected by IP rights and halal-certified from the prototype stage.
This event marked the birth of the Halal–Intellectual Property Nexus at UMSU, envisioned to make the university a pioneer of sharia-based innovation in Sumatra. The synergy is expected to enhance the competitiveness of local products in global markets, while ensuring innovation that is ethical, sustainable, and value-added.
